Pang Mapha District


Pang Mapha District is the northernmost district of Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand.

Etymology

In the Shan language, mapha or makpha means 'lime' and pang means 'hill', so a rough translation into English might be 'lime hill'.

History

Several prehistoric sites are known within the Pang Mapha area. The most famous one is the Spirit Cave, discovered by Chester Gorman in the mid-1960s, was occupied from about 9000 till 5500 BCE by Hoabinhian hunters and gatherers. Two other significant sites nearby are the Banyan Valley Cave and the Steep Cliff Cave. Much more recent are the coffin caves like Tham Lot.
During World War II Japanese troops built a road from Pai to Mueang Mae Hong Son and further to Burma. Later people used the road for transport, using Ban Soppong Mae Umong as the overnight stop. The government built a police station in 1948 in the area called Pang Mapha. In 1977 the government improved the road, many people from other districts and provinces, hill tribes and refugees from Myanmar moved to the area. This created problems like drug trafficking and deforestation. To improve the administration of the area, the government created the Pang Mapha minor district on 1 April 1987, by splitting the two tambons Sop Pong and Pang Mapha from Mueang Mae Hong Son District. It was upgraded to a full district on 5 December 1996.

Geography

The Daen Lao Range dominates the landscape of this district. Neighboring districts are : Pai, Mueang Mae Hong Son of Mae Hong Son Province and Shan State of Myanmar.
The main river of the district is the Khong River.
Tham Lot cave is in Tham Lot District.

Administration

The district is divided into four sub-districts, which are further subdivided into 38 villages. There are no municipal areas. There are four tambon administrative organizations.