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Administrative divisions of Burma>RegionTanintharyi Region}}Districts of Myanmar>DistrictKawthaung District>KawthaungTownships of Myanmar>Township| subdivision_name3 = Kawthaung Township| subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | leader_title = | leader_name = | established_title = | established_date = | area_total_km2 = | population_as_of = 2021| population_footnotes = | population_total = 57,949| population_demonym = KawthaunggeseMyanmar Standard Time>MMT| utc_offset = +6.309N33region:MM|display=inline,title}}| elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | website = | footnotes = | official_name = Kawthaung}}Kawthaung ({{MYname|MY=ကော့သောင်း|MLCTS=kau. saung:}}, {{IPA-my|kɔ̰θáʊ̯ɰ̃|pron}}; ; ; {{RTGS|Ko Song}}, {{IPA-th|kɔ̀ʔ sɔ̌ːŋ|pron}}; , ڤولودوا) is a border 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. As of 2021, it has a population of 57,949.WEB, Population of Cities in Myanmar (2021),weblink 2021-04-01, worldpopulationreview.com, Facing Ranong in Thailand, Kawthaung is one of 7 official border trade posts with Thailand.

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 {{convert|500|mm|in}} falling in each month.{{Weather box|location = Kawthaung (1991–2020, extremes 1949-present)|metric first = Y|single line = Y|temperature colour = |Jan record high C = 36.0|Feb record high C = 37.0|Mar record high C = 38.7|Apr record high C = 39.7|May record high C = 39.5|Jun record high C = 35.5|Jul record high C = 35.0|Aug record high C = 35.7|Sep record high C = 34.5|Oct record high C = 34.5|Nov record high C = 39.5|Dec record high C = 39.0|year record high C = 39.7|Jan record low C = 15.0|Feb record low C = 12.4|Mar record low C = 14.0|Apr record low C = 16.7|May record low C = 13.5|Jun record low C = 17.5|Jul record low C = 17.5|Aug record low C = 14.2|Sep record low C = 16.5|Oct record low C = 14.6|Nov record low C = 12.6|Dec record low C = 15.2|year record low C = 12.4|Jan high C = 31.7|Feb high C = 33.2|Mar high C = 34.2|Apr high C = 34.3|May high C = 32.2|Jun high C = 30.8|Jul high C = 30.2|Aug high C = 30.1|Sep high C = 29.8|Oct high C = 30.2|Nov high C = 30.8|Dec high C = 30.6| year high C = 31.5|Jan mean C = 26.8|Feb mean C = 27.8|Mar mean C = 28.7|Apr mean C = 29.1|May mean C = 27.9|Jun mean C = 27.0|Jul mean C = 26.4|Aug mean C = 26.3|Sep mean C = 26|Oct mean C = 26.1|Nov mean C = 26.5|Dec mean C = 26.2| year mean C = 27.1|Jan low C = 21.8|Feb low C = 22.4|Mar low C = 23.3|Apr low C = 24.0|May low C = 23.5|Jun low C = 23.2|Jul low C = 22.6|Aug low C = 22.6|Sep low C = 22.2|Oct low C = 22.1|Nov low C = 22.2|Dec low C = 21.8| year low C = 22.6|precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 33.3|Feb precipitation mm = 11.3|Mar precipitation mm = 73.1|Apr precipitation mm = 128.6|May precipitation mm = 520.8|Jun precipitation mm = 681.3|Jul precipitation mm = 765.2|Aug precipitation mm = 758.9|Sep precipitation mm = 719.2|Oct precipitation mm = 461.0|Nov precipitation mm = 137.1|Dec precipitation mm = 54.8| year precipitation mm = 4344.5|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 3.1|Feb precipitation days = 1.8|Mar precipitation days = 4.4|Apr precipitation days = 9.1|May precipitation days = 21.1|Jun precipitation days = 22.5|Jul precipitation days = 24.5|Aug precipitation days = 24.1|Sep precipitation days = 23.9|Oct precipitation days = 20.8|Nov precipitation days = 11.6|Dec precipitation days = 5.8|year precipitation days = 172.6| Jan humidity = 72| Feb humidity = 72| Mar humidity = 72| Apr humidity = 75| May humidity = 83| Jun humidity = 87| Jul humidity = 87| Aug humidity = 89| Sep humidity = 88| Oct humidity = 86| Nov humidity = 81| Dec humidity = 76| year humidity = 81|source 1 = World Meteorological OrganizationWEB,weblink World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020, World Meteorological Organization, 16 October 2023, |source 2 = Deutscher Wetterdienst (humidity 1951-1967)WEB,weblink Klimatafel von Victoria Point (Kawthaung) / Myanmar (Birma), Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world, Deutscher Wetterdienst, de, 6 November 2018, Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)WEB,weblink Station Victoria, Meteo Climat, fr, 10 October 2018, }}

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.WEB,weblink The Peranakan Association Singapore, 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 town is home to one of 7 official border trade posts with Thailand, and opened on 1 June 1996.WEB, Border Trade Posts,weblink 2023-03-05, Ministry of Commerce, In 2022, total trade volume at the border post stood at {{US$|202.276 million}}.WEB, 2023-02-24, Border Trade Data,weblink 2023-03-05, Ministry of Commerce, 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."Myanmar Eases Travel Restrictions",weblink 8 megawatt coal-fired power plant was completed in 2012, amid local concerns on pollution issues.NEWS,weblink Coal plant stirs unease in southern Burma, Aye Nai, 5 March 2012, Democratic Voice of Burma, 5 March 2012,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120320155844weblink">weblink 20 March 2012, dead,

Immigration and Visa entry

(File:Kawthaung immigration checkpoint, Myanmar.jpg|thumb|right|Immigration checkpoint in Kawthaung)Thai people can cross into Myanmar through Kawthaung by applying for a temporary border pass without a visa. When crossing with a Thai passport, a visa must be applied for in advance since the related bilateral agreement between Thailand and Myanmar has exceptions only when arriving through an airport. 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

• {{flagicon|Thailand}} Ranong, Thailand

See also

• Kawthaung Airport

References

External links

{{Commons category}}

• {{Wikivoyage inline|Kawthoung}}
• Kawthaung Map from Google Earth
• weblink

{{Taninthayi Division}}{{Borders of Myanmar}}{{Border Crossings of Myanmar}}