Chat Trakan district

Chat Trakan (Thai: ชาติตระการ, pronounced [t͡ɕʰâːt trā.kāːn]) is the northernmost district (amphoe) of Phitsanulok province, central Thailand.

Chat Trakan ชาติตระการ
District
Chat Trakan Waterfall
Amphoe location in Phitsanulok province
Coordinates: 17°16′36″N 100°35′57″E
Country	Thailand
Province	Phitsanulok
Seat	Pa Daeng
Area
• Total	1,586.2 km2 (612.4 sq mi)
Population  (2005)
• Total	38,646
• Density	24.4/km2 (63/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)
Postal code	65170
Geocode	6503

History

Mueang Chat Trakan was an ancient city of the same era as Mueang Nakhon Thai. Originally part of Nakhon Thai District, it was made a minor district (king amphoe) on 1 May 1969, consisting of the two tambon Chat Trakan and Pa Daeng.^[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 1 April 1974.^[2] It was a scene of conflict in the Thai–Laotian Border War (December 1987 – February 1988.)

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the southeast clockwise) Na Haeo of Loei province, Nakhon Thai, Wang Thong, Wat Bot of Phitsanulok Province, Thong Saen Khan and Nam Pat of Uttaradit province. And to the east it borders Xaignabouli of Laos.

Chat Trakan lies within the Nan Basin, part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The Khwae Noi River flows through Chat Trakan, as well as the lesser Kap (Thai: ลำน้ำคับ), Phak (Thai: ลำน้ำภาค) and Kleung (Thai: ลำน้ำคลึง) Rivers.

Namtok Chat Trakan National Park is in Chat Trakan District. The northeastern part of the district is in the southernmost prolongation of the Luang Prabang Range mountain area of the Thai highlands.^[3]

Administration

The district is divided into six sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 72 villages (mubans). The township (thesaban tambon) Pa Daeng covers parts of tambons Pa Daeng and Tha Sakae. There are a further six tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No.	Name	Thai name	Villages	Pop.
1.	Pa Daeng	ป่าแดง	12	7,774
2.	Chat Trakan	ชาติตระการ	9	4,608
3.	Suan Miang	สวนเมี่ยง	10	5,559
4.	Ban Dong	บ้านดง	10	7,809
5.	Bo Phak	บ่อภาค	16	7,751
6.	Tha Sakae	ท่าสะแก	15	5,145

Temples

There are 36 active Buddhist temples in Chat Trakan.^[4]

Economy

Chat Trakan is a district on the outskirts of Phitsanulok province, more than 90% of which is reserved forest area.

Therefore, Chat Trakan and two neighboring districts, Nakhon Thai and Wat Bot, have the lowest prosperity index in Phitsanulok, lowest household income and highest household debt.^[5]