Kawthaung

Kawthaung (Burmese: ကော့သောင်း; MLCTS: kau. saung:, pronounced [kɔ̰θáʊ̯ɰ̃]; Thai: เกาะสอง; RTGS: Ko Song, pronounced [kɔ̀ʔ sɔ̌ːŋ]; Malay: Pulodua, ڤولودوا) is a town located in the southernmost part of Myanmar, in the Tanintharyi Region. During British rule in Burma between 1824 and 1948, it was known as Victoria Point.

Kawthaung

ဍုၚ်ကော့ပိ ကော့သောင်းမြို့
Town
Border crossing at Kawthaung
Kawthaung
Location in Myanmar (Burma)
Coordinates: 9°59′N 98°33′E
Country Myanmar
Region Tanintharyi Region
DistrictKawthaung
TownshipKawthaung Township
Demonym(s)Kawthaunggese
Time zoneUTC+6.30 (MMT)

History

Rakhine and Tanintharyi were transferred to British rule after the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1823–1826.

In 1859, a local group of Chinese and Thais settled at Maliwan (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 around Mergui Archipelago started a base and village at the bay of Victoria Point.

In 1872 the third mayor of Mergui District, Sir Ashly 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.

Geography

Kawthaung is located about 10°N and 98.30°E at the mouth of Kyan River on the Malay Peninsula. To its east is the Thai border town of Ranong. To its west, and south-west, the Andaman Sea opens up to the Indian Ocean and Bokpyin Township is located to the north. Most of the terrain in the area is mountainous.

Climate

Kawthaung has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). 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 (1981–2010, 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)
Average high °C (°F) 31.7
(89.1)		 32.9
(91.2)		 33.6
(92.5)		 33.7
(92.7)		 31.6
(88.9)		 30.3
(86.5)		 29.9
(85.8)		 29.6
(85.3)		 29.5
(85.1)		 29.9
(85.8)		 30.5
(86.9)		 30.6
(87.1)		 31.1
(88.0)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.7
(80.1)		 27.5
(81.5)		 28.4
(83.1)		 29.2
(84.6)		 27.9
(82.2)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.5
(79.7)		 26.3
(79.3)		 26.2
(79.2)		 26.5
(79.7)		 26.6
(79.9)		 26.2
(79.2)		 27.1
(80.8)
Average low °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3)		 23.0
(73.4)		 23.8
(74.8)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.1
(75.4)		 23.6
(74.5)		 23.2
(73.8)		 23.1
(73.6)		 22.7
(72.9)		 22.6
(72.7)		 22.7
(72.9)		 22.2
(72.0)		 23.2
(73.8)
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)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 6.7
(0.26)		 8.0
(0.31)		 52.6
(2.07)		 106.6
(4.20)		 542.8
(21.37)		 686.1
(27.01)		 651.8
(25.66)		 754.6
(29.71)		 685.2
(26.98)		 480.4
(18.91)		 158.3
(6.23)		 40.3
(1.59)		 4,173.4
(164.31)
Average rainy days (≥ 0.3 mm) 4 3 6 11 23 25 26 25 25 23 15 7 193
Average relative humidity (%) 72 72 72 75 83 87 87 89 88 86 81 76 81
Source 1: Norwegian Meteorological Institute,[1] Deutscher Wetterdienst (mean temperatures 1949–1990, rainy days 1936–1975, humidity 1951–1967)[2]
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[3]

Demographics

The majority of Kawthaung's population is made up of Bamar, Thai and other ethnic minorities such as the Shan, Karen, and Mon. Some Thai Muslims, alongside the Salone Sea Gypsies and Malays can also be found in Kawthaung. Burmese Chinese and Burmese Indians, who migrated to Kawthaung during colonial rule for tin mining and other industries also inhabit Kawthaung. Peranakan or Straits Chinese, called Pashu by the Burmese, can also be found in Kawthaung.[4]

The most common spoken language is Burmese, followed by Thai and Southern Thai as well as Shan, 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.

Economy and local products

The main agriculture products are rubber, betel nut, cashew nut, coconut and oil 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.[5]

An 8 megawatt coal-fired power plant was completed in 2012, amid local concerns on pollution issues.[6]

Immigration and Visa entry
Immigration checkpoint in Kawthaung.

Thai people can cross into Myanmar through Kawthaung with their Thai passport. 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 in Phuket, Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan and other places in southern Thailand. A three-day (two-night) visa to Myanmar costs $10 USD.

Sister cities

See also

References
  1. "Myanmar Climate Report" (PDF). Norwegian Meteorological Institute. pp. 26–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. "Klimatafel von Victoria Point (Kawthaung) / Myanmar (Birma)" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  3. "Station Victoria" (in French). Meteo Climat. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  4. http://peranakan.org.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=247&Itemid=2
  5. "Myanmar Eases Travel Restrictions", http://www.burmaboating.com/blog/2013/9/4/myanmar-eases-travel-restrictions
  6. Aye Nai (5 March 2012). "Coal plant stirs unease in southern Burma". Democratic Voice of Burma. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
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