Country Thailand Postal code 23110 Area 50.2 km² Province Trat Province | Time zone ICT (UTC+7) Geocode 2302 Population 23,981 (2000) | |
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Khlong Yai (Thai: คลองใหญ่, [kʰlɔ̄ːŋ jàj]) is a district (amphoe) of Trat Province, eastern Thailand. A border crossing into Cambodia is at Hat Lek, known as the Cham Yeam crossing in Koh Kong Province of Cambodia. The nearest Cambodian city is Koh Kong.
Contents
Map of Khlong Yai District, Trat, Thailand
History
In the past the area was a part of Patchanta Khiri Khet province (now Koh Kong). Unlike the other parts of Koh Kong, this area became part of Siam (Thailand) by the French-Siamese contract in the reign of King Chulalongkorn, in which Siam had to cede the areas east of the Mekong River and provinces of western Cambodia like Battambang, Siam Nakhon, and Sisophon.
It was made a minor district (king amphoe) in 1912 and officially upgraded to a full district in 1959.
Geography
The district is a narrow band of land along the coast to the Gulf of Thailand, separated from Cambodia by the Cardamom Mountains.
Neighboring districts are (from the north clockwise) Mueang Trat of Trat Province, the province Koh Kong of Cambodia, and the Gulf of Thailand.
Sights
The Thai Red Cross Association's Khao Lan Center (ศูนย์สภากาชาดไทยเขาล้าน) is on Trat-Klong Yai Road, Tambon Mai Rut, in the same area as the former Cambodian refugees camp. The camp was closed in 1986 when the refugees moved back to Cambodia. The center was established on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Queen Sirikit in 1992, commemorative of Queen Sirikit's establishment of the camp for Cambodians who suffered from their civil war. Ratchakarun Hall (ศาลาราชการุณย์) and the museum exhibit the history, lifestyle, and household items of Cambodian refugees.
Administration
The district is divided into three sub-districts (tambon), which are further subdivided into 20 villages (muban). There are two townships (thesaban tambon) - Khlong Yai and Hat Lek both cover parts of the same-named tambon. There are further two tambon administrative organizations (TAO).