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Ko Samui

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Ko Samui is a significant island located in the Gulf of Thailand.

Sunrise thailand ko samui
Sunrise thailand ko samui

It sits within the Chumphon Archipelago and belongs to the Surat Thani Province. As the second largest island in Thailand, it follows only Phuket in size. The island is divided into seven sub-districts, known as tambons, and 39 administrative villages. In 2012, Ko Samui achieved municipal status. This means it is now a locally self-governing city municipality. This change allowed the island to manage its own local affairs more directly.

The geography of the island features a diverse landscape of coastlines and jungles.

Tambon 8404
Tambon 8404

The central region is dominated by thick tropical jungle. This area contains the island's highest peak, a mountain called Khao Pom. Many waterfalls are located within these forested hills. Notable examples include the Na Muang, Hin Lad, and Khun Si waterfalls.

Namuang Waterfall
Namuang Waterfall

A 50-kilometer road encircles the island, connecting the lowland coastal areas. The town of Nathon sits on the west coast. It serves as the original capital and a major commercial hub. Nathon contains two of the island's five main piers. These piers connect the island to the mainland.

Ko Samui has a tropical monsoon climate. This classification is based on weather data from 1971 to 2010. The weather remains warm and humid for most of the year. Interestingly, the island is relatively drier than Phuket. While Phuket experiences a wet season lasting six to eight months, Ko Samui has only two months with more than 100 mm of rain. The heaviest precipitation usually occurs between mid-October and early December. Most other rain comes in brief showers lasting only 20 to 60 minutes.

The history of the island spans thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows people lived there more than 2,000 years ago. Researchers found bronze ritual drums in the southern hills. These drums featured etchings of boats, birds, and spirits. By the thirteenth century, the island was part of Siam's feudal system. Its location made it a vital intermediary for trade between China and India. This position led to many different ethnic and religious groups moving to the island. In the 19th century, Chinese immigrants from Hainan arrived to establish plantations. They grew cotton and coconuts on the island.

Bo Phut Beach Ko Samui
Bo Phut Beach Ko Samui

During the twentieth century, the island underwent massive transformations. In the 1960s, Ko Samui faced two epidemics of dengue hemorrhagic fever. During one outbreak in 1995, there were nearly 500 cases per 100,000 people. World War II also left a mark on the island. Japan used Ko Samui as a base of operations alongside the Thai Navy. Some historians believe local shipwrecks from this era exist in the surrounding waters. In the 1970s, the island finally received its first roads. Before this, travelers had to trek through mountainous jungles for an entire day.

Tourism became the primary driver of the modern economy. In the 1980s, the island saw significant foreign investment. This growth was supported by Thailand's Fifth National Economic and Social Development Plan. The Tourism Authority of Thailand launched a development master plan in 1985. The construction of Samui Airport in 1989 caused a spike in mass tourism. By 2018, the island welcomed 2.7 million tourists.

KoSamuiAirport OwlofDoom
KoSamuiAirport OwlofDoom

This rapid growth changed the environment and created social tensions. While it brought prosperity, it also changed the traditional way of life.

The island's ecosystem supports a wide variety of wildlife. Many mammal species live in the tropical forests. These include the crab-eating macaque and the Asian palm civet.

Ape collecting coconut - vycvičená opice trhá kokosy - panoramio
Ape collecting coconut - vycvičená opice trhá kokosy - panoramio

You can also find many types of frogs and reptiles. For example, the rock gecko and various amphibians inhabit the area.

Thailand, Samui, Frog - panoramio
Thailand, Samui, Frog - panoramio

Fruit trees like durian and mango grow across the landscape. However, the island faces challenges with its animal populations. There are tens of thousands of stray dogs on the island. Additionally, some people use macaques to harvest coconuts, which can be a difficult situation for the animals.

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🖼️ Images & Media (10)
File:Bo Phut Beach.jpg
Bo Phut Beach.jpg
File:Tambon 8404.png
Tambon 8404.png
File:Sunrise thailand ko samui.jpg
Sunrise thailand ko samui.jpg
File:Namuang Waterfall.jpg
Namuang Waterfall.jpg
File:Ape collecting coconut - vycvičená opice trhá kokosy - panoramio.jpg
Ape collecting coconut - vycvičená opice...
File:Thailand, Samui, Frog - panoramio.jpg
Thailand, Samui, Frog - panoramio.jpg
File:Самуи май 2013 Чавенг-Ной - panoramio (5).jpg
Самуи май 2013 Чавенг-Ной - panoramio (5).jpg
File:Guan Yu statue at Guan Yu Koh Samui Shrine.jpg
Guan Yu statue at Guan Yu Koh Samui Shrine.jpg
File:Bo Phut Beach Ko Samui.jpg
Bo Phut Beach Ko Samui.jpg
File:KoSamuiAirport OwlofDoom.jpg
KoSamuiAirport OwlofDoom.jpg
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