Samae San Island
Ko Samae San เกาะแสมสาร | |
---|---|
Island | |
Ko Samae San | |
Coordinates: TH 12°34′N 100°57′E / 12.567°N 100.950°E[1] | |
Country | Thailand |
Province | Chonburi Province |
Amphoe | Sattahip |
Elevation[2] | 153 m (502 ft) |
Samae-San Island (Thai: เกาะแสมสาร; Koh Samae-San) is a small island in Sattahip District, Chonburi Province of Thailand.
Geography
Ko Samae San has a length of 4 km and its maximum width is about 1 km. The island is thickly wooded and uninhabited. Formerly there was a fishing village on Samae San Island, but it was vacated and the island now is under the control of the Royal Thai Navy. Some 1,240 families reside in the fishing village of Ban Samae-San located in the mainland shore. Administratively the islands belong to the Samae San Subdistrict of Sattahip.
Islands
There are four main islands in the Samae San group. The northern cluster surrounds Samae San Island, while the southern subgroup is centered on Ko Chuang. Chuang Island has a small bay at its southern end. Hin Chalam (Shark Rock) is located 5 km to the south of the southern end of the group.[3]
Name | Thai Name | Location | Coordinates |
---|---|---|---|
Ko Samae San | เกาะแสมสาร | Main island of the group | 12°34′23″N 100°57′00″E / 12.573°N 100.95°E |
Ko Kham | เกาะขาม | West of Ko Samae San | 12°34′23″N 100°56′02″E / 12.573°N 100.934°E |
Ko Raet | เกาะแรด | NE of Ko Samae San | 12°35′06″N 100°57′50″E / 12.585°N 100.964°E |
Ko Chang Kluea | เกาะฉางเกลือ | Rock east of the group | 12°33′00″N 100°58′16″E / 12.550°N 100.971°E |
Ko Chuang | เกาะจวง | South of Ko Samae San | 12°31′12″N 100°57′36″E / 12.520°N 100.96°E |
Ko Chan | เกาะจาน | East of Ko Chuang | 12°31′16″N 100°58′12″E / 12.521°N 100.970°E |
Ko Rong Nang | เกาะโรงหนัง | NE of Ko Chuang | 12°32′04″N 100°57′31″E / 12.53437°N 100.95870°E |
Ko Rong Khon | เกาะโรงโขน | NE of Ko Chuang | 12°31′54″N 100°57′35″E / 12.53169°N 100.95972°E |
Preservation area
The Ko Kham Undersea Park is part of a Royal Project of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn that preserves the plants and animals of the sea and island. It is home to many kinds of fish, including bluespotted stingrays, moray eels, fusilier fish, angel fish and lionfish.[4]
Tourism
Visitors are restricted, although tourist attractions on the island include fishing, swimming, bicycle riding and hiking.[5] The islands are also well known for their diving areas.[6][7] Since the island is within a military area, off-limits for casual tourists, booking has to be done through local travel agents.[8]