Phuket, Administrative province in southern Thailand.
This province stretches along the west coast of southern Thailand and includes one main island plus several smaller ones that extend into the Andaman Sea. The coastline alternates between sandy beaches, rocky promontories, and forested hills, while the interior is crossed by tropical vegetation and low mountains.
Tin mining brought traders from China and Europe here starting in the 16th century and shaped the economic development of the province for centuries. In 1785, two widows successfully defended the island against a Burmese invasion and were later honored for their leadership.
The name comes from the Malay word for hill, reflecting the mountainous terrain that still shapes the interior of the island today. Chinese shrines and Portuguese colonial architecture stand side by side, recalling the different groups who traded and settled here over centuries.
The three districts of Thalang in the north, Kathu in the west, and Muang in the south administer different parts of the island, each with its own administrative center. Visitors find public services and information at district offices spread throughout the province.
As the only island province of Thailand, it forms an administrative unit that is completely surrounded by the sea. Despite its small size, it ranks among the wealthiest regions in the country due to the combination of tourism and historic tin mining.
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