- Amphoe Aranyaprathet
Infobox_Amphoe
name=Aranyaprathet
thai=อรัญประเทศ
province=Sa Kaeo
coordinates=coord|13|42|3|N|102|30|42|E|type:adm2nd_region:TH
capital=Ban Mai Nong Sai
area=821.265
population=83,171
population_as_of=2005
density=101.3
geocode=2706Aranyaprathet ( _th. อรัญประเทศ) is a district ("
Amphoe ") inSa Kaeo Province inThailand . It bordersCambodia to the East.Economy
Aranyaprathet was formerly a stop on the railroad connecting
Bangkok withPhnom Penh , Cambodia. Rail service was interrupted at the border when theKhmer Rouge seized power in Cambodia in 1975.Aranyaprathet is a popular destination for Thai, Cambodian and
expatriate visitors who are attracted by the border crossing with its market and casinos.Gambling is illegal in both Thailand and Cambodia, but enterprising politicians and businessmen have created a popular string of 7 casinos in the strip of land separating the border checkpoints of the two countries. As the closest casinos to Bangkok (4 hrs overland), these are well-frequented and have resulted in numerous bankruptcies and soaring real estate prices in the town. Although they make up most of the staff of the casinos, Cambodian citizens are generally not permitted to enter as paying customers. Expatriates in Thailand often use the border crossing to renew their Thai visa or to cross over to Cambodia, en route to the temples of Siem Reap. Aranyaprathet's twin city on the Cambodian side isPoiphet , the western terminus of National Highway 5, leading to Phnom Penh.History
Aranyaprathet was originally a district within the province Kabin Buri. On
April 1 1926 the province was abolished and the two districts Mueang Kabin Buri and Aranyapathret became districts of Prachinburi Province. [cite journal|journal=Royal Gazette|volume=42|issue=0 ก|pages=430–431|title=ประกาศ เรื่อง ยุบจังหวัดกบินทร์บุรีลงเป็นอำเภอขึ้นจังหวัดปราจีน|url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2468/A/430.PDF|date=March 31 1926|language=Thai] In 1993 it was one of the districts which formed the new Sa Kaeo province.Administration
The district Aranyaprathet is subdivided into 13 subdistricts ("
tambon "), which are further subdivided into 111 villages ("muban "). Aranyaprathet itself has town status ("thesaban mueang ") and covers the complete "tambon" Aranyaprathet. There are further 12 tambon administrative organizations (TAO).References
External links
* [http://www.amphoe.com/menu.php?mid=1&am=656&pv=61 amphoe.com]
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