Samae San Island

Samae San Island (Thai: เกาะแสมสาร, RTGS: Ko Samaesan, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ sā.mɛ̌ː.sǎːn]) is a small island in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province of Thailand.

Ko Samaesan เกาะแสมสาร
Island
Ko Samaesan
Coordinates: 12°34′N 100°57′E
Country	Thailand
Province	Chonburi Province
Amphoe	Sattahip
Elevation	153 m (502 ft)

Thai marines prepare for amphibious assault training with U.S. Marines assigned to the 2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2013 at Camp Samae San. 6 June 2013.

Geography

Samae San Island has a length of four kilometres and its maximum width is about one kilometre. The island is thickly wooded and uninhabited. Formerly there was a fishing village on Samae San Island, but it was vacated and the island now is under the control of the Royal Thai Navy. Some 1,240 families reside in the fishing village of Ban Samae San on the mainland. Administratively the islands belong to the Samae San Sub-district of Sattahip.

Islands

There are four main islands in the Samae San group. The northern cluster surrounds Samae San Island, while the southern subgroup is centered on Ko Chuang. Chuang Island has a small bay at its southern end. Hin Chalam (Shark Rock) is five kilometres to the south of the southern end of the group.^[1]

Name	Thai Name	Location	Coordinates
Ko Samaesan	เกาะแสมสาร	Main island of the group	12.573°N 100.95°E / 12.573; 100.95
Ko Kham	เกาะขาม	West of Ko Samaesan	12.573°N 100.934°E / 12.573; 100.934
Ko Raet	เกาะแรด	NE of Ko Samaesan	12.585°N 100.964°E / 12.585; 100.964
Ko Chang Kluea	เกาะฉางเกลือ	Rock east of the group	12.550°N 100.971°E / 12.550; 100.971
Ko Chuang	เกาะจวง	South of Ko Samaesan	12.520°N 100.96°E / 12.520; 100.96
Ko Chan	เกาะจาน	East of Ko Chuang	12.521°N 100.970°E / 12.521; 100.970
Ko Rong Nang	เกาะโรงหนัง	NE of Ko Chuang	12.53437°N 100.95870°E / 12.53437; 100.95870
Ko Rong Khon	เกาะโรงโขน	NE of Ko Chuang	12.53169°N 100.95972°E / 12.53169; 100.95972

Preservation area

The Ko Kham Undersea Park is part of a royal project of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn that preserves the plants and animals of the sea and island. It is home to many kinds of fish, including bluespotted stingrays, moray eels, fusilier fish, angel fish and lionfish.^[2]

Tourism

Visitors are restricted, although tourist attractions on the island include fishing, swimming, bicycle riding and hiking.^[3] The islands are also well known for their diving areas.^{[4][failed verification][5]} Since the island is within a military area, off-limits for casual tourists, booking has to be done through local travel agents.

See also

• List of islands of Thailand