Bolikhamsai province ແຂວງ ບໍລິຄໍາໄຊ | |
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 Map of Bolikhamsai province | |
 Location of Bolikhamsai province in Laos | |
| Coordinates:18°23′00″N103°39′00″E / 18.383333°N 103.65°E /18.383333; 103.65 | |
| Country | Laos |
| Capital | Paksan |
| Area | |
• Total | 14,863 km2 (5,739 sq mi) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
• Total | 315,956 |
| • Density | 21/km2 (55/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
| ISO 3166 code | LA-BL |
| HDI(2022) |  0.657[1]medium ·3rd |
Bolikhamsai (alsoBorikhamxay,Lao: ບໍລິຄໍາໄຊ,pronounced[bɔ̀ː.lī(ʔ)kʰám.sáj]) is a province ofLaos. Pakxan, Thaphabat, Pakkading, Borikhane, Viengthong, and Khamkeut are its districts andPakxan is its capital city.[2] The province is the site of theNam Theun 2 Dam, the country's largest hydroelectric project.[3] It covers an area of 14,863 square kilometres (5,739 sq mi).[4]
The province faced invasions from theSiamese throughout its history. The foundation ofPaksan dates from the late nineteenth century. In 1836, the Siamese assumed suzerainty over Laos.[5] The province was formed in 1986 from parts of theVientiane province andKhammuan.[6] In February 2005, 100 villagers were forced to sell their possessions and prepare to be evicted inKok Poh village in Borikham District, and the central authorities intervened to stop this.[7]
Bolikhamsai province covers an area of 14,863 square kilometres (5,739 sq mi).[8] It bordersXiangkhouang province to the northwest,Vietnam to the east,Khammouane province to the south, andThailand to the west. Settlements includePakxan,Borikham,Lak Sao,Muang Bo,Ban Hatkham,Ban Thana,Ban Thasi,Ban Hai,Ban Don,Ban Soppanga,Ban Pak Ham,Ban Naxon,Ban Kengbit,Ban Pakha,Ban Phayat,Ban Sopchat,Ban Muangcham and Ban Nap. The province includes the Annamite Range, stretching east to Vietnam, while to the west are the Mekong River and Thailand.[3]
Bolikhamsai province has a rugged terrain, with boulders and streams. Itselevation ranges from 140–1,588 metres (459–5,210 ft).[9] The principal river is theNam Kading, meaning 'water like a bell', a tributary of the Mekong; its catchment covers about 92% of the provincial area.[9] Other rivers are theNam Muan,Nam Sat, and theNam Tek.[9] Waterfalls include theTad Leuk,Tad Xay andTad Xang.[9] The longest mountain range in the province is thePhou Louang range, running to the southwest, thePhou Ao range to the southeast; theThalabat range to the northwest, and thePa Guang range to the northeast.[9] In Khamkheuth District, there iskarst limestone scenery, which is allegedly the largest formation of its type in Southeast Asia. The rock pinnacles have formed stone forest similar to limestone outcrops in southern China.[2]
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At 4,270 square kilometres (1,650 sq mi),Nakai-Nam Theun National Park in Bolikhamsai andKhammouane provinces is the third largestprotected area in Laos.[10] It includes mixed semi-tropical forests, reported in areas of Indochina.[11] Other protected areas includeNam Kading National Protected Area and thePhou Khao Khouay National Protected Area.
Under theWorld Wildlife Fund (WWF) Greater Mekong Lao PDR Country Programme, studies have been carried out in the two forest areas in the province to assess the degree of sustainable rattan harvest and production as it provides income in whole of the Mekong region to rural villages. The forest areas covered are 349 ha of forest area in Ban Soupphouan (Nong Kan and Phu Sangnoy villages) and 364 ha in Phonthong.[12] The species sampled weremak naeng (cardamom),bamboo shoots of many species, all yearsan (Laolady palm),mushrooms,pak van,kha (galangal),wai houn (Calamus melanochaetes, syn.Daemonorops jenkinsiana, rattan),phak kout (vegetable fern),wai khom (C. viminalis rattan),ya houa andka don nam.[12]
Mammals includetigers,Malayan sun bears,guars,giant muntjacs,elephants,clouded leopards, andAsiatic black bears.[11] The mammal species protected under the Nam Kading National Protected Area are four critically endangered and endangeredprimate species:northern white-cheeked gibbons,southern white-cheeked gibbons,red-shanked douc langurs and two leaf-monkey species.[11] Bird species recorded in the province arebulbuls such as thebare-faced bulbul (Pycnonotus hualon),thrushes and thegreen cochoa (Cochoa viridis).[13] 4 species ofhornbills are reported.[11]
The province is made up of the following districts:[2]
| Map | Code | Name | Lao script |
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| 11–01 | Pakxan District | ເມືອງປາກຊັນ | |
| 11–02 | Thaphabat District | ເມືອງທ່າພະບາດ | |
| 11–03 | Pakkading District | ເມືອງປາກກະດິງ | |
| 11–04 | Borikhane District | ເມືອງບໍລິຄັນ | |
| 11–05 | Khamkeut District | ເມືອງຄຳເກີດ | |
| 11–06 | Viengthong District | ເມືອງວຽງທອງ | |
| 11–07 | Xaichamphon District | ເມືອງໄຊຈໍາພອນ |
Laos's largest hydroelectric project,Nam Theun 2 Dam (NT2), began operation in March 2010. The scheme diverts water from theNam Theun, atributary of the Mekong River, to theXe Bang Fai River, enabling a generation capacity of1,070MW, from a 350 m (1,148 ft) difference in elevation between thereservoir and thepower station. At the time of signing in 2005, NT2 was the largestforeign investment in Laos, the world's largest private sector cross-border power project financing, the largest private sector hydroelectric project financing, and 1 of the largest internationally financedIPP projects in Southeast Asia. The dam marked a return by theWorld Bank to funding infrastructure, after a decade-long hiatus. The dam exports energy to neighboring Thailand. Along with Khammouane and Savannakhet provinces, it is atobacco producing area of Laos, and a producer ofsugar cane andoranges.[14]
Wat Phabath and Wat Phonsanh temples are pilgrimage centres between Vientiane and Pakxan. Wat Phabath is said to have a footprint of Buddha and murals. The location provides vistas of the Mekong River.[2]
Places adjacent to Bolikhamsai province | |
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