Nan province

Statistics
Capital:	Nan[?]
Area:	11,472.1 km² Ranked 17th
Inhabitants:	454,610 (2001) Ranked 57th
Pop. density:	40 inh./km² Ranked 73rd
ISO 3166-2:	TH-55
Map

Nan (Thai น่าน) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from south clockwise) Uttaradit[?], Phrae[?] and Phayao[?]. To the north and east it borders Laos.

Table of contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Demographics 4 Symbols 5 Administrative divisions 6 External links

Geography

The province is located in the remote valley of the Nan river, surrounded by mountains covered with forests. The highest mountain is the 2079 meter high Phu Khe in the north-east near the border with Laos.

History

For centuries Nan was an independent kingdom but, due to its remoteness, had few connections to the other kingdoms. In the mid of the 14th century it grew in power and was associated with the Sukhothai kingdom, until at the end of the 14th century it became part of the kingdom of Lannathai. It took until 1931 for Lannathai to become fully integrated into Thailand, and the province was then created.

Before the early 1980s bandits as well as People's Liberation Army of Thailand[?] (PLAT) guerillas were a big problem in the province, usually destroying highway construction overnight. With the help of the army and the more stable political system the province improved significantly, but is still a very rural and remote one.

Demographics

10.5% of the population belong to the hilltribes.

Symbols

The provincial seal shows a Usuparatch bull carrying the Phrathat Chae Haeng chedi. The provincial tree and provincial flower is the Orchid Tree[?] (Bauhinia variegata[?]).

Administrative divisions

Amphoe (districts)		King Amphoe (minor districts)
Mueang Nan Mae Charim Band Luang Na Noi Pua Tha Wang Pha Wiang Sa	Thung Chang Chiang Klang Na Muen Santi Suk Bo Kluea Song Khwae Chaloem Phra Kiat	Phu Phiang

External links

• Province page from the Tourist Authority of Thailand (http://www.tat.or.th/province/north/nan/index.htm)
• Golden Jubilee Network province guide (http://kanchanapisek.or.th/cgi-bin/kp8/oncc/province.cgi?prov=n6)