Angthong (อ่างทอง)

Thai. ‘Gold basin’. Name of both a town and a province (map) in Central Thailand. The province covers an area of 968.3 km² and the town has around 10,000 inhabitants. The town is situated on the banks of the Chao Phrya river, around 108 km from Bangkok and the province borders to Singburi in the North, to Lopburi in the East, to Ayutthaya in the Southeast and to Suphanburi in the West. The province is a low river flat consisting of mostly agricultural land. Besides the Chao Phraya river, the province is also crossed by the Noi river and both are used extensively for farming rice. It was formerly called Meaung Wiset Chai Chahn and Meuang Bang Kaew. Initially located on the banks of the Noi River, it formed an important border town of the kingdom of Ayutthaya during its age-long wars with Burma, as the Noi river served as a natural obstacle for advancing Burmese troops. During the reign of king Taksin, after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, the main city of the province was moved to the Chao Phraya river, as the Noi river had become too shallow for transportation. It was renamed Angthong, referring to the golden colour of the rice grown in the region, as well as to its basin-like geography. Angthong is said to be the hometown of Nai Dok and Nai Thongkaew, two heroes from Bang Rajan, and of the Mitchai family, a famous family of likae actors, singers and songwriters. The main occupation of its inhabitants is paddy and crop farming, fishing and cattle breeding, basket and drum making, trade and industry. The province has many persimmon trees and its chief rivers are the Noi and Chao Phraya. Its places of interest include Wat Chaiyo Worawihaan and Wat Pah Mohk Worawihaan. Angthong province has seven amphur, 81 tambon and 513 mu ban. Often transcribed Ang Thong. See also Angthong data file and Moo Koh Angthong for the National Marine Park. 回