Prachuap Khiri Khan Province - Geography

Geography

Prachuap Khiri Khan covers an area of 6,367.620 square kilometres. The district is located on the Kra Isthmus, the narrow landbridge connecting the Malay Peninsula with mainland Asia. The province contains the narrowest part of Thailand - directly south of the capital, it is just 13 kilometres from the coast of the Gulf of Thailand to the border with Myanmar. The narrowest point of the Isthmus is however further south in the province Chumphon. Geographically, Prachuap Khiri Khan is a moderate plain area with altitude varying from 0 - 1200 metres above sea level. The maximum altitude can be reached in the north eastern and central west regions, which makes up approximately 30% of the area.

The long coast to the Gulf of Thailand has many sandy beaches, the most famous one being at Hua Hin, which has been a popular resort since King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) built a summer palace. From the coast the land quickly rises into the Tanaosi Range, the mountain chain which forms the border with Myanmar, the highest elevation in the province being the 1494-metre-high Khao Luang. Due to this narrow watershed the rivers in the province are all small; the only bigger one is the Pran Buri River in the north of the province. Among the smaller rivers is the Khlong Kui.

The Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park was established in 1966 to protect Thailand's largest freshwater marshes. The park also contains some mangrove woods and mudflats. Most of the marshes were converted into shrimp farms, despite being in a national park.