|
|
| Phuket, a large island in the Indian
Ocean, is 867 kms. from Bangkok. It is the only island having provincial
status, and was a regional headquarters as well, with a rich and
colorful history. |
| :::Location
and Boundaries::: |
| Phuket is an island connected by
bridges to southern Thailand's Andaman Sea coast, in the Indian Ocean,
lying between 7'45" and 8'15" north latitude, and from 98'15"
to 98'40" west longitude on the map. Phuket, Thailand's largest
islands, is surrounded by 32 smaller islands that form part of the
same administration, with a total area of 570 square kilometers. Measured
at its widest point, Phuket is 21.3 kilometers; at its longest, 48.7
kilometers. it is bounded thus: |
| North |
Lies The Pak Prah strait, spanned by two
bridges running side-by-side, the older Sarasin Bridge, and the newer
Thao Thep Krasatri Bridge. |
| South |
Is the Andaman Sea. |
| East |
Is Phang-nga Bay (In the jurisdiction mainly
of Phang-nga Province). |
| West |
Is The Andaman Sea. |
About 70 percent of Phuket
is mountainous; a western range runs from north to south from which
smaller branches derive. The highest peak is Mai Tha Sip Song, or
Twelve Canes, at 529 meters, which lies within the boundaries of Tambon
Patong, Kathu District. The remaining 30 percent of the island, mainly
in the center and south, is formed by low plains. Streams include
the Khlong Bang Yai, Tha Jin, Khlong Tha Rua, and Khlong Bang Rong,
none of which is large.
|
|
| Phuket's weather conditions are dominated
by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always warm
and humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy
season begins in May and lasts till October, during which the monsoon
blows from the southwest. The dry season is from November through
April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast. Highest average
temperatures, at 33.4 degree Celsius, prevail during March. Lowest
averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degree Celsius.
|
| Official population as of December, 1998, was 231,206.
This figure numbers those who are registered as living in Phuket.
Phuket' s attraction as a center of economic activity has resulted
in many living on the island whose registration is elsewhere. The
total population of Phuket varies considerably depending on the time
of year, through it is never less than the figure given above. |
|
Home
