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ระนอง
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Ranong
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3,2980
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59th
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161,210
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2000
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59th
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49
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71st
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TH-85
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Mekhin Methakhun
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2005
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(
Thai ระนอง) is one of the southern
Provinces (''changwat'') of
Thailand , at the shore to the
Andaman Sea . It is the province with the fewest citizens. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise)
Chumphon ,
Surat Thani and
Phang Nga . To the west, it also borders to
Kawthaung Province, Union of
Myanmar .
Ranong is located on the
Kra Isthmus , the narrow strip that connects mainland Thailand with the
Malay Peninsula , on the west side of the
Phuket Mountain Range . It has a long coast on the
Andaman Sea . The province is known for having the most rainfall of all Thailand, the rainy season lasting for about 8 months. In 1955 the annual rainfall reached 6699.5
Mm , compared to about 1200 in central Thailand. This led to the pun that the name Ranong is in fact taken from the English ''rain on'' - even though the name is actually pronounced ''ra-nawng''.
The province is the least populated province of Thailand, 80% of the area are covered by forests, and 67% are mountanous terrain. Historically the major industry was
Tin mining, but most mines are exploited already now. White clay mining for the production of porcelain and fishing are the main industries today, together with the rubber and
Cashew Nut farming.
The
Ranong Biosphere Reserve in the north of
Amphoe Kapoe covering 303.09 km² was declared in
1997 . It is the fourth biosphere reserve of Thailand, but the only one located at the coast to protect the mangrove forests.
Khaw Soo Cheang was a Chinese from Changchow-fu,
Fukien Province, who tried his luck abroad. In
1810 he arrived at
Penang , but after 6 unsuccessful years he came to
Takuapa to try his luck there. Earning well from various trading activities, in
1844 he was appointed Royal Collector of tin royalties in the Ranong area, and receiving the title and name ''Luang Ratanasethi''.
1854 King
Mongkut made him governour of Ranong and elevated him to ''Phra''. At that time Ranong was a subordinate of the
Chumphon Province , but in
1864 due to the good performance of the governour it was elevated to full provincial status, and he became the title ''Phraya''. After he died in
1882 his second son became the new governour and in
1896 commissoner of
Monthon Chumphon, other sons became governour of Kra, Langsuan, and his youngest son
Kho Sim Bee became governour of
Trang , and in
1900 commissoner of Monthon Phuket. However after his death in
1913 a commissioner from outside the area was appointed, to stop the traditionally inherited administrative power of the family.
In
1916 all Chinese immigrant had to adopt a Thai name, and the family of Khaw Soo Cheang became the
Na Ranong family.
Ranong is subdivided into 4 districts (''
Amphoe '') and one minor district (''King Amphoe''). These are further subdivided into 30 communes (''
Tambon '') and 167 villages (''mubaan'').
