Amphoe Thalang

Infobox_Amphoe
name=Thalang
thai=ถลาง
province=Phuket
coordinates=coord|8|1|54|N|98|20|2|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
area=252.0
population=75,224
population_as_of=2007
postal_code=83110
density=298.5
geocode=8303

Thalang ( _th. ถลาง) is a district ("Amphoe") in the north of Phuket Province, Thailand.

History

Thalang was the original center of Phuket province, then named "Mueang" Thalang. The governor then had the title Phraya Thalang (พระยาถลาง). In 1898 the current district was established.

Geography

The district borders to the south Mueang Phuket and Kathu, while to the north is Takua Thung of Phang Nga Province, separated by the Pak Prah strait.

Places

The Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area protects more than 20 km² of rainforest within the hills of the district. The three highest peaks of this reserve are the Khao Prathiu (384 m), Khao Bang Pae (388 m) and Khao Phara (422 m). The Sirinat National Park on the northwestern coast was established in 1981 and protects an area of 90 km² (68 km² marine area), including the Nai Yang beach where sea turtles lay their eggs.

At the heroines monument in the south of the district a branch museum of the National Museum was opened in 1989. The monument itself commemorates the local heroines Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon, who forced the Burmese army sieging the town of Thaland to retreat.

Traffic

Phuket International Airport is located within the district. The main road is Highway 402, which runs from the bridge over the Pak Prah strait till Phuket city.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 6 subdistricts ("tambon"), which are further subdivided into 46 villages ("muban"). Thep Krasattri and Choeng Thale have subdistricts municipality ("thesaban tambon") status, each covering part of the same-named tambon. Each of the 6 tambon is administrated by a Tambon administrative organization (TAO).