Amnat Charoen (Thai: อำนาจเจริญ, pronounced [ʔām.nâːt t͡ɕā.rɤ̄ːn]) is one of Thailand's seventy-six provinces (changwat) and lies central northeastern Thailand, also called Isan. Neighbouring provinces are (clockwise from the south) Ubon Ratchathani, Yasothon, and Mukdahan. To the east it borders Salavan of Laos. Its name is a concatenation of อำนาจ ("authority, power") and เจริญ ("prosperous").[6]
Amnat Charoen อำนาจเจริญ | |
|---|---|
 Phra Mongkol Ming Mueang | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Motto(s): พระมงคลมิ่งเมือง แหล่งรุ่งเรืองเจ็ดลุ่มน้ำ งามล้ำถ้ำศักดิ์สิทธิ์ เทพนิมิตพระเหลา เกาะแก่งเขาแสนสวย เลอค่าด้วยผ้าไหม ราษฎร์เลื่อมใสใฝ่ธรรม ("Phra Mongkhon Ming Mueang. The source of seven great streams. Beautiful, sacred caves. Holy Buddha amulets, Beautiful rapids and mountains. Precious silk. Righteous people believing in Dharma.") | |
 Map of Thailand highlighting Amnat Charoen province | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Capital | Amnat Charoen |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Thaweep Butpho (since October 2020)[1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,290 km2 (1,270 sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 59th |
| Population (2019)[3] | |
| • Total | 378,438 |
| • Rank | Ranked 65th |
| • Density | 115/km2 (300/sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 44th |
| Human Achievement Index | |
| • HAI (2022) | 0.6549 "somewhat high" Ranked 20th |
| GDP | |
| • Total | baht 18 billion (US$0.6 billion) (2019) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
| Postal code | 37xxx |
| Calling code | 045 |
| ISO 3166 code | TH-37 |
| Website | www |
Geography
The province is in the Mekong valley. In dry season, from February to May, water in Mekong River declines, and allows islands to appear. Islands include Kaeng Tanglang at Si Sombun Village, close to Amphoe Chanuman, and Kaeng Hin Khan at Ban Hin Khan, 30 kilometres south of Amphoe Chanuman. The other two rivers in the province are the Lam Sae Bok and Lam Sae Bai.The total forest area is 314 km2 (121 sq mi) or 9.5 percent of provincial area.[2]
National park
There is one national park, along with five other national parks, make up region 9 (Ubon Ratchathani) of Thailand's protected areas.
- Phu Sa Dok Bua National Park, 231 km2 (89 sq mi)[7]: 75
History
Amnat Charoen gained city status during the reign of King Rama III. It was first administered from Nakhon Khemarat, and later from Ubon Ratchathani. It became a province in its own right on 12 January 1993, when it was split off from Ubon Ratchathani. It is thus one of the four newest provinces of Thailand, together with Nong Bua Lam Phu and Sa Kaeo, both also established in 1993, and Bueng Kan, established in 2011.
Economy
The province is overwhelmingly agricultural. In 2008, Amnat Charoen locals developed the so-called "Dhamma agriculture" model based on self-governance and aimed at making the province a hub for organic farming. According to the Office of Agriculture Economics, Amnat Charoen in 2016 had a total of 883,499 rai planted in hom Mali rice. Sugarcane plantations increased from 40,688 rai in 2015 to 51,446 rai in 2016.[8]
Symbols
In the middle of the provincial seal is an image of the Buddha called Phra Mongkol Ming Muang. Also known as Phra Yai (Big Buddha), this 20 m high statue is among the most sacred in the city of Amnat Charoen.[6]
The provincial tree is Hopea ferrea.
The provincial slogan is Phra Mongkhon, seven river basins, sacred caves, Phra Lao, beautiful islands and mountain, precious silk and religious people.
Administrative divisions
Provincial government
The province is divided into seven districts (amphoe). The districts are further divided into 56 subdistricts (tambon) and 653 villages (muban).
Local government
As of 26 November 2019 there are:[9] one Amnat Charoen Provincial Administration Organization (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 24 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province. Amnat Charoen has town (thesaban mueang) status. Further 23 subdistrict municipalities (thesaban tambon).The non-municipal areas are administered by 39 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO (ongkan borihan suan tambon).[3]
Human achievement index 2022
| Health | Education | Employment | Income |
 |  |  |  |
| 59 | 48 | 25 | 65 |
| Housing | Family | Transport | Participation |
 |  |  | .png) |
| 19 | 14 | 31 | 17 |
| Province Amnat Charoen, with an HAI 2022 value of 0.6549 is "somewhat high", occupies place 20 in the ranking. | |||
Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at sub-national level using the human achievement index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017.[4]
| Rank | Classification |
| 1 - 13 | "high" |
| 14 - 29 | "somewhat high" |
| 30 - 45 | "average" |
| 46 - 61 | "somewhat low" |
| 62 - 77 | "low" |
References
External links
- Official site of Phitsanulok province Archived 2008-08-05 at the Wayback Machine
See also
External links
Amnat Charoen travel guide from Wikivoyage- province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand
- Website of the province Archived 2021-01-25 at the Wayback Machine (Thai only)
