Bang Kachao ( th, บางกะเจ้า) is an artificial island formed by a bend in the

Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya ( or ; th, แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา, , or ) is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. ...

and a canal at its western end. It lies south of the Thai capital

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...

Phra Pradaeng District Phra Pradaeng ( th, พระประแดง, ) is a district (''amphoe'') of Samut Prakan province in Thailand. History Phra Pradeang was the original center of the area south of Bangkok near the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. Originally na ...

of Samut Prakan Province. The island, covering or 12,000 rai (1,920 hectares) has been traditionally agricultural with only a relatively small population. It is sometimes referred to as the "green lung" of Bangkok". In 2006, Bang Kachao was named "best urban oasis" by ''Time'' in its "Best of Asia" series and is frequented by nature lovers and cyclists.

Administration

Bang Kachao includes six sub-districts (''

tambon ''Tambon'' ( th, ตำบล, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district ('' amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 '' khwaen ...

s''): Bang Namphueng, Bang Kachao, Bang Yo, Bang Krasop, Bang Ko Bua, and Song Khanong.

Development

The island's unspoiled character, abundant space, and proximity to central Bangkok have made it a target of developers. A battle to save it is underway. Following the death of

King Bhumibol Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...

in October 2016, the

military government A military government is generally any form of government that is administered by military forces, whether or not this government is legal under the laws of the jurisdiction at issue, and whether this government is formed by natives or by an occup ...

declared its intention to preserve Bang Kachao. A three-year project by the Royal Forestry Department, Kasetsart University, and oil company PTT aims to renovate public green spaces and ensure that 60 percent of the island remains free of development. "The difficulty in...Thailand, where land is in short supply and corruption rampant, is

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

developers and powerful businesses...circumvent, or simply ignore, environmental protections." Despite misgivings, one resident sold her family's 6,000 m² landholding for as much as 24 million

baht The baht (; th, บาท, ; sign: ฿; code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. SWIFT ranked the Thai baht as the 10th-m ...

(US$686,106).

Notes

References

External links

* {{coord, 13.6807, N, 100.5663, E, source:wikidata, display=title Geography of Samut Prakan province Populated places on the Chao Phraya River River islands of Thailand