Phaya Mengrai (Thai: พญาเม็งราย; IPA: [pʰá.jāː mēŋ.rāːj]) is a district (amphoe) of Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand.
Phaya Mengrai
พญาเม็งราย | |
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District | |
![]() Chedi, Phaya Mengrai | |
![]() District location in Chiang Rai province | |
Coordinates: 19°50′56″N 100°9′13″E | |
Country | Thailand |
Province | Chiang Rai |
Seat | Mengrai |
Area | |
• Total | 620.0 km2 (239.4 sq mi) |
Population (2005) | |
• Total | 41,972 |
• Density | 67.7/km2 (175/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
Postal code | 57290 |
Geocode | 5712 |
Neighboring districts are (from the west clockwise): Wiang Chai, Wiang Chiang Rung, Chiang Khong, Khun Tan and Thoeng of Chiang Rai Province.
The minor district (king amphoe) was created on 5 May 1981, when the three tambons Mae Pao, Mae Tam, and Mai Ya were split off from Thoeng district.[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 12 August 1987.[2]
The district is named after King Mengrai, the founder of the Lanna kingdom of northern Thailand.
Tambon Phay Mengrai is the site of a 2,700 rai Cavindish banana plantation owned and operated by the Chinese firm, Hongta International, a major local employer. The Cavendish banana is controversial as its cultivation requires the intensive use of chemical pesticides to yield harvests for export.[3] The Mekong-Lanna nature conservation network has accused the Chinese plantation of heavy use of pesticides and excessive water takings from Mae Ing Creek. These charges are as yet unsubstantiated (2016).[4]
The district is divided into five sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 69 villages (mubans). Phaya Mengrai is a township (thesaban tambon) which covers parts of tambons Mengrai and Mae Pao. There are a further five tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
No. | Name | Thai name | Villages | Pop. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Mae Pao | แม่เปา | 19 | 11,302 | |
2. | Mae Tam | แม่ต๋ำ | 11 | 5,026 | |
3. | Mai Ya | ไม้ยา | 17 | 11,069 | |
4. | Mengrai | เม็งราย | 14 | 9,899 | |
5. | Tat Khwan | ตาดควัน | 8 | 4,676 |
Chiang Rai Province | |
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Chiang Rai (capital) | |
Districts (amphoe) |
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Related topics |
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