Ubon Ratchathani province

Statistics
Capital:	Ubon Ratchathani[?]
Area:	15,744.8 km² Ranked 5th
Inhabitants:	1,686,300 (2001) Ranked 4th
Pop. density:	107 inh./km² Ranked 45th
Map

Ubon Ratchathani (often in short Ubon, Thai อุบลราชธานี) is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from west clockwise) Sisaket[?], Yasothon[?], Amnat Charoen[?] and Mukdahan[?]. To the north and east it borders Laos, to the south Cambodia.

Table of contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Symbols 4 Administrative divisions 5 External links

Geography

At Khong Chiam the Mun river, the biggest river of the Khorat Plateau, joins the Mekong, which forms the north-eastern boundary of Thailand with Laos. The area where the borders of the three countries Thailand, Laos and Cambodia meet is promoted as the Emerald Triangle, in contrast to the Golden Triangle in the north of Thailand. The Emerald refers to the large intact monsoon forests there.

History

The area was part of the Khmer Empire, until King Ramathibodi of Ayutthaya defeated it and made it part of his kingdom. After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 several new tribes settled there, including the Kha and Suai. Twenty years later King Rama I offered a noble title to the local leader who could unite the many small settlements into one town. This was acomplished in 1786 with the founding of Ubon Ratchathani by Thao Khamphong, and in 1792 it became a province. It was later incorporated into Nakhon Ratchasima province, and in 1933 it regained its provincial status.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a Lotus flower in a pond. This refers to the meaning of the name of the province, which translates to Royal city of the lotus flower. Therefore the provincial flower also is the Lotus (Nymphaea lotus). The provincial tree is the Yang-khao (Dipterocarpus alatus[?]).

Administrative divisions

Amphoe (districts)		King Amphoe (minor districts)
Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Si Mueang Mai Khong Chiam Khueang Nai Khemarat Det Udom Na Chaluai Nam Yuen Buntharik Trakan Phuet Phon	Kut Kaopun Muang Sam Sip Warin Chamrap Phibun Mangsahan Tan Sum Pho Sai Samrong Don Mot Daeng Sirindhorn Thung Si Udom	Na Yai Na Tan Lao Suea Kok Sawang Wirawong Nam Khun