Phang Nga Province
1 Phang Nga Province Provincial Emblem Flag Province . Government Governor: Narong Phonla-iat (since October 2016) Capital: Surat Thani Royal capital: - Population: 1,040,230 (2014) Area: 12,891.5 km2 Administrative divisions Phang Nga is divided into eight districts (amphoes), which are further subdivided into 48 communes (tambons) and 314 villages (mubans).Mueang Surat Thani 1. Mueang Phang Nga 2. Ko Yao 3. Kapong (Malay: Kampung) 4. Takua Thung 5. Takua Pa 6. Khura Buri 2 7. Thap Put 8. Thai Mueang Geography The province is on the west side of the Malay Peninsula, and includes the many islands of the Phang Nga Bay. The most famous one is the so-called James Bond Island, a needle formed limestone rock in the sea, which featured in the 1974 movie The Man with the Golden Gun. Ao Phang Nga (Phang Nga Bay) National Park was established in 1981 to protect the many islands. The Similan Islands and Surin Islands, two of Thailand's main diving destinations, are also part of Phang Nga Province. History Phang Nga is the modern Thai transliteration of the archaic Malay word pangan, literally 'jungle'. The phrase orang pangan denotes 'heathen, pagan, primitive people', in reference to a generalised tribe or people typically inhabiting jungle areas of the Malay Peninsula and its offshore islands. Historically, during the reign of King Rama II, nearby areas (including Thalang, now known as Phuket) were occupied by the Burmese and so many people fled to Kraphu Nga. In 1824 when Siamese troops defeated the Burmese and they were expelled, King Rama III renamed the area adjacent to the bay phang-nga.
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