Phuket Geography
Introduction
Phuket Island is located approximately 900 kilometers south of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, along the west coast of Thailand bordering the Andaman Sea. It is Thailand's largest island with a land area of 539 sq km. Including the 30 small islands, the total land area is 543 sq km.
Largest Island in Thailand
A tropical paradise, much of the beauty of province lies in the geography of Phuket. Located in the Andaman Sea (eastern part of the Indian Ocean, near Southern Thailand, Phuket is the largest island of Thailand as well as one of Thailand's most important provinces.
It is an elongated shape running north from the bridge to Phang Nga and south for 49 kilometers. it is 21 kilometers at the widest.
The district is an extremely mountainous one which contributes to a large extent in supplying the land with picturesque locations, which only add to the tourist attractions of Phuket. These mountains are in majority a part of the Phuket Mountain Range that begins its slopes from the Kra Isthmus north of Ranong and extends to the South - some 450 kms from their point of origin.
Land use of Phuket can be classified into 4 categories:
- agricultural land
- forested land
- urbanized
- others
70% of the island is covered by forest, but some of the old plantations have disappeared in recent years, give way to real estate projects and villages.
The main beaches are located along the Western coast, where most of the development has taken place since the early 1980s. The east coast beaches are often muddy, but with spectacular views over Phang Nga Bay.
Near the southernmost point is Laem Promthep (Brahma's Cape), which is a popular sunset viewing point for tourists - especially from November until April.
In the mountainous north of the island is the Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary, protecting more than 20 sq km of rainforest. This area contains Phuket's last area of virgin rainforest.
A number of trails offer visitors a chance to explore and to enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle. There are beautiful waterfalls in the park and the gibbon rehabilitation centre, which tries to rehabilitate abandoned pet gibbons to the wild.
Mountains
The Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Canes) is the highest elevated mountain in Phuket, at 529 meters above sea level. It is visible from the southern part of Phuket Island. The mountain top is home to a military installation and is called Radar Hill among locals in Phuket.
Another important feature of this beautiful island is its spectacular forests, which together add up to almost 70% of the total land area of Phuket. Accentuating the feeling of tropical wonder that surrounds the entirety of Phuket, these forests double up as some of the most important wildlife sanctuaries of Phuket and contribute greatly to the tourist attractions of Phuket. Competing with the tourist attractions of the forests of Phuket are the beautiful beaches of Phuket, characterized by their soft, yellow sands which draw thousands of tourists on a trip to Phuket each year.
Beaches & Coastal Areas
- Cape Panwa
- Chalong
- Rawai
- Nai Harn Beach
- Kata Noi Beach
- Kata Beach
- Karon Beach
- Patong Beach
- Kamala Beach
- Surin Beach
- Bang Thao & Laguna Beach
- Nai Thon Beach
- Nai Yang Beach
- Mai Khao Beach
Urban Areas and Towns
- Phuket City
- Patong
- Thalang
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