Kawthaung ကော့သောင်းမြို့ (Burmese) Kawthoung | |
|---|---|
Town | |
| Kawthaung | |
 Border crossing at Kawthaung | |
  Kawthaung Location in Myanmar (Burma) | |
| Coordinates:9°59′N98°33′E / 9.983°N 98.550°E /9.983; 98.550 | |
| Country |  Myanmar |
| Region |  Tanintharyi Region |
| District | Kawthaung |
| Township | Kawthaung Township |
| Population (2021) | |
• Total | 57,949 |
| Demonym | Kawthaunggese |
| Time zone | UTC+6.30 (MMT) |
Kawthaung[a] is a border town located in the southernmost part ofMyanmar, in theTanintharyi Region. DuringBritish rule in Burma between 1824 and 1948, it was known asVictoria Point. As of 2021, it has a population of 57,949.[1] FacingRanong inThailand, Kawthaung is one of 7 officialborder trade posts withThailand.
Rakhine andTanintharyi were transferred toBritish rule after theFirst Anglo-Burmese War of 1823–1826.
In 1859, a local group of Chinese and Thais settled atMaliwan (Thai language) to the north of Kawthaung, a place with numerous lakes and flowering trees. In 1865, an Arab–Malay group led by Nayuda Ahmed, traveling and collecting sea products aroundMergui Archipelago started a base and village at the bay of Victoria Point.
In 1872 the third mayor ofMergui District, SirAshly Din (1870–1875), assigned the first police officer to be stationed at Maliwan, a village 24 miles north of current Victoria Point. In 1891, the local government offices were moved from Maliwan to Kawthaung because Maliwan is located on the bank of a small shallow river, Maliwan Creek, unsuitable for large ships to enter and waiting tide water.
Kawthaung is located about 10°N and 98.30°E at the mouth ofKyan River on the Malay Peninsula. To its east is the Thai border town ofRanong. To its west, and south-west, theAndaman Sea opens up to theIndian Ocean andBokpyin Township is located to the north. Most of the terrain in the area is mountainous.
Kawthaung has atropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classificationAm). Temperatures are hot throughout the year. There is a winter dry season (December–March) and a summer wet season (April–November). Torrential rain falls from May to September, with over 500 millimetres (20 in) falling in each month.
| Climate data for Kawthaung (1991–2020, extremes 1949-present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 36.0 (96.8) | 37.0 (98.6) | 38.7 (101.7) | 39.7 (103.5) | 39.5 (103.1) | 35.5 (95.9) | 35.0 (95.0) | 35.7 (96.3) | 34.5 (94.1) | 34.5 (94.1) | 39.5 (103.1) | 39.0 (102.2) | 39.7 (103.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.7 (89.1) | 33.2 (91.8) | 34.2 (93.6) | 34.3 (93.7) | 32.2 (90.0) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.2 (86.4) | 30.1 (86.2) | 29.8 (85.6) | 30.2 (86.4) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.6 (87.1) | 31.5 (88.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.8 (80.2) | 27.8 (82.0) | 28.7 (83.7) | 29.1 (84.4) | 27.9 (82.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.4 (79.5) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26 (79) | 26.1 (79.0) | 26.5 (79.7) | 26.2 (79.2) | 27.1 (80.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 21.8 (71.2) | 22.4 (72.3) | 23.3 (73.9) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.5 (74.3) | 23.2 (73.8) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 22.2 (72.0) | 22.1 (71.8) | 22.2 (72.0) | 21.8 (71.2) | 22.6 (72.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) | 12.4 (54.3) | 14.0 (57.2) | 16.7 (62.1) | 13.5 (56.3) | 17.5 (63.5) | 17.5 (63.5) | 14.2 (57.6) | 16.5 (61.7) | 14.6 (58.3) | 12.6 (54.7) | 15.2 (59.4) | 12.4 (54.3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 33.3 (1.31) | 11.3 (0.44) | 73.1 (2.88) | 128.6 (5.06) | 520.8 (20.50) | 681.3 (26.82) | 765.2 (30.13) | 758.9 (29.88) | 719.2 (28.31) | 461.0 (18.15) | 137.1 (5.40) | 54.8 (2.16) | 4,344.5 (171.04) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.1 | 1.8 | 4.4 | 9.1 | 21.1 | 22.5 | 24.5 | 24.1 | 23.9 | 20.8 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 172.6 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 72 | 72 | 72 | 75 | 83 | 87 | 87 | 89 | 88 | 86 | 81 | 76 | 81 |
| Source 1:World Meteorological Organization[2] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity 1951-1967)[3] Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[4] | |||||||||||||
The majority of Kawthaung's population is made up ofBamar,Thai and other ethnic minorities such as theShan,Karen, andMon. SomeThai Muslims, alongside theSalone Sea Gypsies andMalays can also be found in Kawthaung.Burmese Chinese andBurmese Indians, who migrated to Kawthaung during colonial rule fortin mining and other industries also inhabit Kawthaung.Peranakan or Straits Chinese, called Pashu by the Burmese, can also be found in Kawthaung.[5]
The most common spoken language isBurmese, followed byThai andSouthern Thai as well asShan,Moken,Karen,Mon,Kedah Malay and Chinese and Indian languages..
Most of the Bamar, Thai, Shan, Karen, Mon, Burmese Chinese and some portions of the Salone adhere to Theravada Buddhism. The Malays and Thai Muslims practice Islam.
The town is home to one of 7 officialborder trade posts with Thailand, and opened on 1 June 1996.[6] In 2022, total trade volume at the border post stood atUS$202.276 million.[7]
The main agriculture products arerubber,betel nut,cashew nut,coconut andoil palm. Mining and wood log industries which flourished in the past have now dried out.
Although Kawthaung has a large port the fishing industry is not as large as in the past because of the government restriction on fishing vessels. Fishing still plays a significant role but engines are restricted to 28 hp. Tourism is bound to play a larger role for the local economy in the future as Myanmar's government is gradually lifting travel and immigration restrictions in the area. Since September 2013, tourists entering the country through Kawthaung are able to continue their journeys on land and exit through any other border crossing.[8]
An 8 megawatt coal-firedpower plant was completed in 2012, amid local concerns on pollution issues.[9]
Thai people can cross into Myanmar through Kawthaung by applying for a temporary border pass without a visa. When crossing with a Thai passport, a visa must be applied for in advance since the related bilateral agreement between Thailand and Myanmar has exceptions only when arriving through an airport. Other foreigners must have a passport that is valid for at least another 6 months and are required to pay a fee. The border is popular for visa renewal with tourists staying inPhuket,Ko Tao,Ko Pha Ngan and other places in southern Thailand. A three-day (two-night) visa to Myanmar costs $10USD.
Ranong, Thailand
Kawthoung travel guide from WikivoyageBorders of Myanmar | |
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