Loei province

Statistics
Capital:	Loei
Area:	11,424.6 km² Ranked 14th
Inhabitants:	607,083 (2000) Ranked 38th
Pop. density:	53 inh./km² Ranked 70th
ISO 3166-2:	TH-42
Map

Loei (Thai เลย) is one of the most sparsely populated provinces (changwat) of Thailand, located in the North-East of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from east clockwise) Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Nongbua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Phetchabun, Phitsanulok. In the north it borders Laos.

Table of contents

1 Geography
2 History
3 Symbols
4 Administrative divisions
5 External links

Geography

The province is covered with low mountains, and the capital Loei is located in a fertile basin. The river Loei which flows through the province is a tributary of the Mekong river. This forms the boundary of the province in the north with the neighboring Laos.

While temperatures in the hot season around April can be more than 40 degrees Celsius, the province is the only place in Thailand which regularly goes below 0 degrees in the nights during the cold season around December.

History

In 1853 king Mongkut (Rama IV) founded the city of Loei to better administer the increased population in the area. In 1907 the province was created.

Symbols

The seal of the province shows the stupa (tower) at Phra That Si Song Rak built in 1560. It was built by king Maha Chakrapat of the Ayutthaya kingdom, and king Chai Chetha of Lan Xang, and marked the boundary between the two kingdoms. The provinvial tree is the Khasia pine (Pinus kesiya).

Administrative divisions

The province is subdivided into 12 districts (Amphoe) and 2 minor districts (King Amphoe). The districts are further subdivided into 89 communes (tambon) and 839 villages.

Amphoe		King Amphoe
Mueang Loei Na Duang Chiang Khan Pak Chom Dan Sai Na Haeo	Phu Ruea Tha Li Wang Saphung Phu Kradueng Phu Luang Pha Kao	Erawan Nong Hin

External links

Provinces of Thailand
{\|		North:	Chiang Mai \| Chiang Rai \| Kamphaeng Phet \| Lampang \| Lamphun \| Mae Hong Son \| Nakhon Sawan \| Nan \| Phayao \| Phetchabun \| Phichit \| Phitsanulok \| Phrae \| Sukhothai \| Tak \| Uthai Thani \| Uttaradit
North-East:	Amnat Charoen \| Buriram \| Chaiyaphum \| Kalasin \| Khon Kaen \| Loei \| Maha Sarakham \| Mukdahan \| Nakhon Phanom \| Nakhon Ratchasima \| Nongbua Lamphu \| Nong Khai \| Roi Et \| Sakhon Nakhon \| Sisaket \| Surin \| Ubon Ratchathani \| Udon Thani \| Yasothon
Central:	Ang Thong \| Ayutthaya \| Bangkok \| Chainat \| Kanchanaburi \| Lopburi \| Nakhon Nayok \| Nakhon Pathom \| Nonthaburi \| Pathum Thani \| Phetchaburi \| Prachuap Khiri Khan \| Ratchaburi \| Samut Prakan \| Samut Sakhon \| Samut Songkhram \| Saraburi \| Sing Buri \| Suphanburi
South:	Chumphon \| Krabi \| Nakhon Si Thammarat \| Narathiwat \| Pattani \| Phang Nga \| Phattalung \| Phuket \| Ranong \| Satun \| Songkhla \| Surat Thani \| Trang \| Yala
East:	Chachoengsao \| Chanthaburi \| Chonburi \| Rayong \| Prachinburi \| Sa Kaeo \| Trat