Thee Lor Su
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Welcome to Umphang
Umphang District
Umphang is the southernmost district of Tak Province, Thailand at the Thai-Myanmar border. It is also the name of the town center of the district. Neighboring district are (North from clockwise) Amphoe Phop Phra; Amphoe Klong Lan and Amphoe Pang Sila Thong of Kamphaeng Phet Province; Amphoe Mae Wong and King Amphoe Mae Poen of Nakhonsawan Province; Amphoe Ban Rai of Uthai Thani Province; and Amphoe Thong Pha Phum and Amphoe Sangkhla Buri of Kanchanaburi Province. The western edge of the district has a long boundary with Burma (Myanmar). Surrounded by national parks and wildlife reserves, it is one of the least accessible district in Thailand. Nevertheless, it has one major tourist attraction, Thee Lor Su Waterfall the largest waterfall of Thailand.
History
Umphang was established as a district in 1898. It was named Amphoe Mae Klong back then and part of Uthai Thani Province. In 1906 it was renamed Amphoe Umphang and removed to Kamphaeng Phet Province. Its status was changed to King Amphoe and moved to Tak Province effective January 1 1926. Finally in 1959 it is promoted back to Amphoe status.
Etymology
It was speculated that the name Umphang came from Karen word Umpa, meaning the act of opening bamboo container, this was performed by Burmese to show passport stored in the bamboo to Thai immigration officers.
Geography
Most of Umphang is mountainous, geographically separated from the east part of Tak Province via Thanon Thongchai Mountain Range. The southern part near Umphang belongs to Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary while the central part near Umphang town is Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary. Directly east of Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary is Mae Wong National Park (in Tak and Kamphaeng Phet Province) and Khlong Lan National Park (in Kamphaeng Phet Province). The area, due to its difficulty of access, ware used as a base of Communist Party of Thailand. An important river in Umphang is Klong River which originates here and flows southward into Kanchanaburi Province.
Demographics
A large number of the populations are hill tribes with Karen people making up the largest proportion. As Karens were the original settlers here before Thais began to migrate into the area, many place names are in Karen language.
Transportation
The Highway 1090 (Maesod-Umphang) is the only road linking Umphang to other parts of Thailand. Another highway, Highway 1167, connect Umphang town to the Burmese border. Highway 1090, 164 km in total, has two lanes during much of the way and contains 1,219 curves, a number proudly displayed at numerous places in Umphang. It is one of the toughest roads for those who suffer from motion sickness. The journey through this highway takes about 3 to 4 hours.
There was a highway 1117 (Khlong Lan – Umphang) project that would have provided a connection from Amphoe Khlong Lan, Kamphaeng Phet Province but the project was shelved in 1987 pending an environmental study. About 115 km of the highway beginning from Khlong Lan was already constructed, leaving the last 28 km on the Umphang side where it stopped in Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in 1990. Suggestion to finish this project surfaced a few time but was eventually rejected due to the virgin forest the last 28 km section must cut through. Another project linking Umphang to Amphoe Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi Province was proposed in 2004 but was immediately rejected. Beside the highway 1090, is a municipal airport in Umphang.
Umphang is the southernmost district of Tak Province, Thailand at the Thai-Myanmar border. It is also the name of the town center of the district. Neighboring district are (North from clockwise) Amphoe Phop Phra; Amphoe Klong Lan and Amphoe Pang Sila Thong of Kamphaeng Phet Province; Amphoe Mae Wong and King Amphoe Mae Poen of Nakhonsawan Province; Amphoe Ban Rai of Uthai Thani Province; and Amphoe Thong Pha Phum and Amphoe Sangkhla Buri of Kanchanaburi Province. The western edge of the district has a long boundary with Burma (Myanmar). Surrounded by national parks and wildlife reserves, it is one of the least accessible district in Thailand. Nevertheless, it has one major tourist attraction, Thee Lor Su Waterfall the largest waterfall of Thailand.
History
Umphang was established as a district in 1898. It was named Amphoe Mae Klong back then and part of Uthai Thani Province. In 1906 it was renamed Amphoe Umphang and removed to Kamphaeng Phet Province. Its status was changed to King Amphoe and moved to Tak Province effective January 1 1926. Finally in 1959 it is promoted back to Amphoe status.
Etymology
It was speculated that the name Umphang came from Karen word Umpa, meaning the act of opening bamboo container, this was performed by Burmese to show passport stored in the bamboo to Thai immigration officers.
Geography
Demographics
A large number of the populations are hill tribes with Karen people making up the largest proportion. As Karens were the original settlers here before Thais began to migrate into the area, many place names are in Karen language.
Transportation
The Highway 1090 (Maesod-Umphang) is the only road linking Umphang to other parts of Thailand. Another highway, Highway 1167, connect Umphang town to the Burmese border. Highway 1090, 164 km in total, has two lanes during much of the way and contains 1,219 curves, a number proudly displayed at numerous places in Umphang. It is one of the toughest roads for those who suffer from motion sickness. The journey through this highway takes about 3 to 4 hours.
There was a highway 1117 (Khlong Lan – Umphang) project that would have provided a connection from Amphoe Khlong Lan, Kamphaeng Phet Province but the project was shelved in 1987 pending an environmental study. About 115 km of the highway beginning from Khlong Lan was already constructed, leaving the last 28 km on the Umphang side where it stopped in Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary in 1990. Suggestion to finish this project surfaced a few time but was eventually rejected due to the virgin forest the last 28 km section must cut through. Another project linking Umphang to Amphoe Sangkhla Buri, Kanchanaburi Province was proposed in 2004 but was immediately rejected. Beside the highway 1090, is a municipal airport in Umphang.
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