Nakhon Sawan Province

Nakhon Sawan (Thai: นครสวรรค์) is ane o the provinces (changwat) o Thailand. Neighborin provinces are (frae north clockwise) Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani an Tak.

Etymology

The wird Nakhon oreeginates frae the Sanskrit wird Nagara meanin ceety, an the wird Sawan frae Sanskrit svarga meanin heaven. Hence the name o the province literally means Heaven Ceety.

History

Nakhon Sawan wis a ceety syne Dvaravati era. While pairt o the Sukhothai Kinrick, it wis cawed Mueang Phra Bang, the soothren frontier ceety o Sukhothai. Later athin the Ayutthaya kingdom it wis an important tred centre acause o its location at the twa major rivers frae the north. It an aa wis the common meetin pynt o Burmese troops afore muivin tae attack Ayutthaya. In the reign o King Taksin the Great, Phra Bang became a Siamese military base tae prevent further Burmese attacks.

When King Mongkut signed the Bowring Treaty wi Breetain the glorious time o Nakhon Sawan began, as it became the main rice an teak tradin center. Housomeivver the openin o the Northren railwey in 1922, the economic crisis afore 1932 revolution, an finally the openin o Dejativongse brig an Phahonyothin hieway in 1950 each decreased the importance o watter transportation an sicweys made Nakhon Sawan less important.

When in 1895 King Chulalongkorn established the monthon as pairt o the thesaphiban admeenistrative reform, Nakhon Sawan became caipital ceety o Monthon Nakhon Sawan.

The 4t Infantry Regiment o the 3rd Aurie Airmy is based in Nakhon Sawan. It is in chairge o the northwastren mairch wi Burma, frae Mae Hong Son in the north tae Kanchanaburi in the sooth.

Geography

The Ping an Nan rivers merge near the ceety o Nakhon Sawan tae form the Chao Phraya River. The Mae Wong Naitional Paurk on the mairch wi Khamphaeng Phet province wis creatit in 1987 tae preserve the Mae Wong-Mae Poen jungle.

Bueng Boraphet is the lairgest freshwater swamp in Thailand, in tot coverin 212 km². The swamp is locatit directly east o the toun Nakhon Sawan an extends intae the destricts Tha Tako an Chum Saeng. Durin the winter months mony waterfowls migrate thare. Pairts o the swamp are protectit as a non-huntin aurie.