Koh Poulo Wai

Koh Wai,Khmer: កោះពូលូវៃ, also known as Poulo Wai or the Wai Islands, is a group of two small wooded and uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Siam. The islands are located far away from the shore, 95 km to the southwest of the coast of Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia. Administratively Koh Wai falls under Kampot Province. The Khmer word Koh (កោះ), means 'island' translated into English.

Both islands are roughly 5 km long with a maximum width of about 1.5 km. They are located 1.4 km from each other, separated by a channel of 3/4 mile wide. The depth of the channel is about 40 feet. The west island is about 100 m high at its south-western end. The eastern island is around 200 feet and rock fringed.

History

These islands were part of the basis of overlapping territorial claims between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam; the three nations used differing methods of measuring the extent of their territorial waters from the islands.

In May 1975, the area around these islands and nearby Koh Tang was the site of the Mayaguez incident, the last combat action of the Vietnam War, which involved the rescue of the SS Mayaguez. One month later, Vietnam People's Army forces seized the islands and there was a battle between Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese troops over the control of the islands. Finally, the Vietnamese evacuated Koh Wai in August.

Ko Chang District

Ko Chang (Thai: เกาะช้าง, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ tɕʰáːŋ], also Koh Chang) is an amphoe (district) in Trat Province, Thailand. It is on the Gulf of Thailand's eastern seaboard, 310 km from Bangkok, near the border with Cambodia.

It is the country's third largest island, after Phuket and Ko Samui, and the largest island in the Mu Ko Chang National Park archipelago.

The name means "Elephant Island", and comes from its elephant-shaped headland. Despite the presence of elephants on the island, they are not indigenous. At present, there are nine villages on the island.

History

Prior to World War II, Ko Chang was little known. During this period, the few families there made a living growing coconuts and fruit.

During World War II, when Thailand was occupied by Japanese forces, Ko Chang was the scene of the 1941 Battle of Ko Chang between the Royal Thai Navy and a Vichy French naval squadron, in which the French won a decisive victory.

Geography

Ko Chang is part of an archipelago of 51 islands, and is approximately 30 km long by 14 km, wide with a total area of 217 km². It is part of the Mu Ko Chang National Park, which covers an area of 650 km², of which 70% is offshore.

Ko Mak

Ko Mak (Thai: เกาะหมาก, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ màːk]) is a small island of Trat Province, Thailand. The island is named after the Areca nut (หมาก).

History

The first settler on the island was Chao Sua Seng, a Chinese Affairs Officer during the reign of King Rama V, who established a coconut plantation. He then sold the plantation to Luang Prompakdii, also a Chinese Affairs Officer whose descendants still own the land to this day. Luang Prompakdii and his children are known to have established more coconut and rubber plantations, effectively covering most of the arable land in these two sought-after exports.

The first attempt at attracting a tourism market was in 1974, when bungalows were built at Ban Ao Nid on the east of the island. Infrastructure, specifically transport and telecommunications were in their early stages and as a result, the tourism industry on Ko Mak took some time to become established. By 1987 certain beaches and land were cleared and the first resorts were built.

Political history

Ko Wai

Ko Wai (Thai: เกาะหวาย) is a small island in Ko Chang Archipelago, Trat Province, eastern Thailand. It is part of Mu Ko Chang National Park. The island has irregular shape and is 3 km long and 1 km wide at the widest point. The island has nice views over the other islands of archipelago.

Overview

The east part of the island is encircled by coral reef and has sand beaches while the west part is more rugged and hilly, and serves as a nesting ground for birds. The interior is covered by forest jungle. There are four bungalow operations on the island and daily boat connections to Ko Chang, Ko Mak, and the mainland, during the season.

See also

External links

References

Coordinates: 11°54′N 102°24′E / 11.900°N 102.400°E / 11.900; 102.400