Amphoe Nam Phong

Infobox_Amphoe
name=Nam Phong
thai=น้ำพอง
province=Khon Kaen
area=828.7
population=113,343
population_as_of=2005
density=136.8
coordinates=coord|16|42|10|N|102|51|17|E|type:landmark_region:TH-40
postal_code=40140
geocode=4007

Nam Phong ( _th. น้ำพอง) is a district ("Amphoe") of Khon Kaen Province.

Geography

Neighboring district are (from the north clockwise) Non Sa-at of Udon Thani Province, Kranuan, Sam Sung, Mueang Khon Kaen, Ubolratana and Khao Suan Kwang.

The district is located at the Friendship highway (Thai highway 2), as well as the northeastern railway. The district office and the train station are located about 7 km east of the main settlement, Ban Nam Phong.

Despite its name, the Nam Phong National Park does not cover any territory of the Nam Phong district, but is located southeast of the district. Both are named after the Nam Phong River, which originates within the national park, and after the Ubol Ratana dam flows through the district towards the Chi River.

An oil survey in 1979 found a natural gas reserve of estimated 1.5 trillion cubic feet (42 km³) was discovered. Since 1989 the gas field is exploited for the Nam Phong power plant operated by EGAT. With a capacity of 710 MW it is the main source of electricity for the northeast of Thailand. [ [http://www.egat.co.th/english/powerplants/namphong.htm Nam Phong power plant website] ]

Economy

The district is mostly agricultural, main products are rice, sugar cane as well as husbandry. The two major factories are a sugar factory and a distillery for Lao Kao.

History

The district was created on February 10 1908, at first named Tha Wa (ท่าหว้า). In 1909 it was renamed to Nam Phong. [ [http://www.kk.ru.ac.th/nampong.htm Amphoe information at the Ramkamhaeng University, Khon Kaen campus] ]

1972-73 the Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong was one of the bases of the US military used for the Vietnam war.

Attractions

Phrathat Kham Kaen is an ancient buddhist monument. The stupa, located within Wat Chetiyaphum, is believed to mark the original location of Khon Kaen. According to the local legend, relics of Buddha were to be brought to Nakhon Phanom. The monks camped at a dead tamarind tree. When they arrived in Nakhon Phanom the Phrathat Phanom was already finished, thus they planned to return the relics. On the return way they found the dead tree flourished again, and built the stupa at the site of the miracle. [ [http://www.tourismthailand.org/destinationguide/list.aspx?provinceid=28&typeid=7 Tourism authority of Thailand] ]

Ban Khok Sa-nga is famous as the "King Cobra Village". In 1951 a local doctor started to conduct cobra shows to attract clients to the village. Nowadays the cobra shows are the main income of the villagers, who also travel around to perform the show and sell their herbal medicine.

Administration

The district is subdivided into 12 subdistricts ("tambon"), which are further subdivided into 167 villages ("muban"). There are two townships ("thesaban tambon") - Nam Phong covering parts of "tambon" Nam Phong, and Wang Chai covering parts of "tambon" Wang Chai and Nong Kung. Each of the "tambon" is administrated by a Tambon administrative organization (TAO).

References