Wang Thong River

Infobox_River
river_name = Wang Thong River


caption = Wang Thong River in Wang Thong
origin = Phetchabun Mountains in the Khao Kho District, Thailand
mouth = Nan River at coord|16|31|06|N|100|19|36|E|type:landmark_region:TH
basin_countries = Thailand
length =
elevation =
discharge =
watershed =

The Wang Thong River ( _th. แคววังทอง) (also known as the Khek River) is a river in Thailand. Its source lies in the Phetchabun Mountains in the Khao Kho District, Thailand. [http://www.tourismthailand.org/products/products-sub.aspx?ParentID=135 Whitewhater Rafting at Tourism Authority of Thailand] ] It flows through Thung Salaeng Luang National Park and forms Namtok Sri Dit and Namtok Kaeng Sopha (Kaeng Sopha Waterfall) in the Wang Thong District of Phitsanulok Province, and finally flows through into the Bang Krathum District, passing through Ban Sam Ruen and on to the border of Phitsanulok and Phichit where it drains into the Nan River at coord|16|31|06|N|100|19|36|E|type:landmark_region:TH.Google Earth] The land drained by the Wang Thong River is part of the Nan Basin and the Chao Phraya Watershed.

Etymology

Of the names Khek and Wang Thong, Khek (Thai: เข็ก) is the older name for the river. The work Khek is another name for the ethnicity more commonly known as Hakka. The two words are cognates of Chinese 客家 (meaning house-guest).The river derives its modern name Wang Thong from its path through Amphoe Wang Thong. The first element wang (Thai: วัง) means palace. [http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/ Thai/English Dictionary] ] The second element thong (Thai: ทอง) means gold. [http://www.thai2english.com/dictionary/ Thai/English Dictionary] ] This Thai word for gold was borrowed from the Tamil language of Sri Lanka. [http://std.cpc.ku.ac.th/delta/conf/Acrobat/Papers_Eng/Volume%202/deivanayagam.pdf The Chola Empire and the Chao Phraya Delta] ] The name of the river translates to "River of the Golden Palace."

History

The early Ban Wang Thong and Ban Saphan communities relied heavily on the Wang Thong River. Before the construction of highways, most traffic to Phichit and Nakhon Sawan was via boat. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ]

Brotherly Villages Boat Race

The Wang Thong river was historically the site for a boat race between the villagers of Ban Wang Thong and Ban Saphan. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ] The race took place annually in November after the rainy season. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ] The original boat race was discontinued prior to the 1940s. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ] In 1982, a plan to reintroduce the Brotherly Villages Boat Race was discussed by senior local officials, the traders of the Wang Thong Market, farmer organizations and the abbot of Wat Bang Saphan to promote the unity of the community. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ] Rather than having one village compete against the other as in earlier days, the new boat race involves competition between local farmer and village organizations. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ] The first race in the reborn competition was opened by District Officer Naaj Amphoe. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ] The present form of the boat race involves less ritual activities than the pre-1940s races. [http://books.google.com/books?id=I4-PA0PjnPQC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&dq=%22wang+thong+river%22&source=web&ots=9dvtKfkbFI&sig=M_O4OelUhgNMUMqVkdz9CAikvcA Alternate Identities: The Chinese of Contemporary Thailand] ]

Whitewater Rafting and the Khek River Rafting Festival

Tourists come to the Wang Thong River to see the waterfalls along its path, and to engage in rafting. Rapids along the river include the Wang Nam Yen Rapids within Thung Salaeng Luang National Park. Some portions of the Wang Thong River are designated level 5 rafting sites. This level of whitewater is the uppermost limit to rafting, meaning the river is wild, with a rapid current and difficult, steep rapids. The level of difficulty of the current depends on the volume of water flow. In the rainy season, the river becomes swifter. In June, 2005, Phitsanulok Province initiated a campaign entitled "Sip Coffee at Kaeng Song, Paddle Along Nam Khek Rapids," and held the first Khek River Rafting Festival. [http://www.nationmultimedia.com/explore/20050702/index.php?news=column_17906696.html White Fright Water] ] The next Khek River Rafting Festival was held from July 7 through the end of October, 2006. [http://www.nowpublic.com/coffee_tasting_festival_and_khek_river_rafting_festival_in_thailand Coffee Tasting Festival and Khek River Rafting Festival in Thailand] ] This year the festival is being held from July 1, 2007 through Oct 31, 2007 under the name "Kaeng Song Cafe - Khek river rafting festival." [http://www.hotelsguidethailand.com/home/festdetail.php?l=en&festid=162 Kaeng Song Cafe - Khek river rafting festival] ]

Waterfalls

*Kaeng Song Waterfall
*Kaeng Sopha Waterfall
*Sri Dit Waterfall
*Wang Nok Aen Waterfall

Bueng Rachanok

Bueng Rachanok (Thai: บึงราชนก) is a swamp along the Wang Thong River within the Wang Thong District of Phitsanulok Province. The swamp was renovated in 1994 by Phitsanulok Provincial Administration Organization, and is now a popular tourist attraction. [http://www.aars-acrs.org/acrs/proceeding/ACRS2001/Papers/DSM2-05.pdf Bueng Rachanok GIS Application] ]

Resorts

*The Rain Forest Resort provides cottages with verandas overlooking the river. [http://www.rainforestthailand.com/SuperiorRiverView.html Rain Forest Resort, Phitsanulok, Thailand] ]
*The Sappraiwan Grand Hotel and Resort provides bungalows and chalets overlooking the river. [http://www.resort.co.th/index%20en.html Sappraiwan Grand Hotel and Resort] ]

Hydroelectric Power

A study has been recently done at Naresuan University, Faculty of Engineering, to consider the practicalities of utilizing the river's 60 ft. drop within the Salaeng Luang National Park to generate hydroelectric power. [http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:bdj6_Rn9YoIJ:www.tropentag.de/2006/abstracts/full/252.pdf+khek+river&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us Development of Pico-hydropower Plant for Farming Village in Upstream Watershed, Thailand] ]

Wildlife

Kaeng Bang Rachan at the source of the Wang Thong is a natural habitat for the Freshwater Jellyfish (Crasapedacusta Sowerby) which is presently found in only the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Thailand. [http://www.tourismthailand.org/destinationguide/list.aspx?provinceid=54&typeid=7 Kaeng Bang Rachan at Tourism Authority of Thailand] ] Also, it is a natural habitat for rare species of butterflies such as Kaiser, Troides helena and Euploea. [http://www.tourismthailand.org/destinationguide/list.aspx?provinceid=54&typeid=7 Kaeng Bang Rachan at Tourism Authority of Thailand] ]

Recent Incidences of Drowning

Pongsagorn Kaenmanee, age 9 (October 6, 2007), drowned during an unusual swelling of the river which caused significant flooding in the area [http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:wluIHZtv4Q4J:www.bangkokpost.net/News/07Oct2007_news02.php+%22wang+thong+river%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=us Nine-Year-Old Boy Swept Away as Floodwaters Swell] ]

Royal Visit

His Majesty the King Rama 9 of Thailand visited the Wang Thong River to inspect the Khek River Basin Development Project at Lom Sak district of Phetchabun Province on February 24th, 1981. [http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/vines/1701/tab18.htm List of Projects undertaken through The Initiative of His Majesty the King, No. 18] ] The purpose of the inspection was in relation to the King's multi-purpose irrigation projects.

References

External links

* [http://library.car.chula.ac.th:82/search*thx?/XPhitsanulok&SORT=D/XPhitsanulok&SORT=D&SUBKEY=Phitsanulok/1%2C46%2C46%2CB/frameset&FF=XPhitsanulok&SORT=D&38%2C38%2C Malacological survey at Nam Khek River, Phitsanulok Province, North of Thailand]