Siem Reap Province

Siem Reap
សៀមរាប
Province

Angkor Wat
Nickname(s): Gateway to Angkor

Map of Cambodia highlighting Siem Reap
Coordinates: 13°21′N 103°51′E / 13.350°N 103.850°E / 13.350; 103.850Coordinates: 13°21′N 103°51′E / 13.350°N 103.850°E / 13.350; 103.850
Country Cambodia
Provincial status 1907
Capital Siem Reap
Government
 • Governor Khim Bun Song
Area
 • Total 10,299 km2 (3,976 sq mi)
Area rank Ranked 10th
Population (2008)[1]
 • Total 896,309
 • Rank Ranked 6th
 • Density 87/km2 (230/sq mi)
 • Density rank Ranked 15th
Time zone UTC+07
Dialing code +855
ISO 3166 code KH-17
Districts 12
Communes 100
Villages 907

Siem Reap (Khmer: សៀមរាប, "Defeat of Siam") is a province (khaet) of Cambodia. It borders the provinces of Oddar Meanchey to the north, Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom to the east, Battambang to the south, and Banteay Meanchey to the west. Its capital and largest city is Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is the 10th largest province in Cambodia. With a population of 896,309, it ranks as the 6th largest in the nation. A large portion of Siem Reap's southern border is demarcated by the Tonle Sap and as such, it is one of the nine provinces that making up the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. In modern times the province is best known as the site of Angkor and the Angkor Wat temple ruins.

Etymology

The name "Siem Reap" literally means "Siam Defeated", a reminder of the centuries-old conflict between the Siamese and the Khmer. In Siam, the province and its capital was called "Siemmarat" (Thai: เสียมราฐ), literally meaning "Siam's Territory".[2]

History

The province came under the control of the Thai kingdom of Siam in 1795 and was later returned to Cambodia in 1907 after French made a treaty with Siam for exchange of Trat and Dan Sai for the Siamese province of Inner Cambodia which included Phra Tabong (Battambang), Siemmarat (Siem Reap), and Nakhon Wat (Angkor Wat). The Inner Cambodia province was split into Battambang and Siem Reap by the royal decree of King Sisowath the same year. This area became part of a disputed territory between France and Siam (now Thailand) which led to the Franco-Thai War in 1941, resulting in victory for Thailand and a return to Thai control (with exception of Siem Reap and Angkor Wat). The province again reverted to Cambodia in 1946, after the end of World War II with French and UN international pressure.

Subdivisions

The province is subdivided into 12 districts, 100 communes and 907 villages.[3]

1701Angkor Chumអង្គរជុំ
1702Angkor Thomអង្គរធំ
1703Banteay Sreiបន្ទាយស្រី
1704Chi Kraengជីក្រែង
1706Kralanhក្រឡាញ់
1707Puokពួក
1709Prasat Bakongប្រាសាទបាគង
1710Siem Reapសៀមរាប
1711Soutr Nikomសូទ្រនិគម
1712Srei Snamស្រីស្នំ
1713Svay Leuស្វាយលើ
1714Varinវារិន្ទ
Phnom Kulen 
View from Phnom Bakheng 
South gate of Angkor Thom 
Bayon Temple 
Banteay Srei 

References

  1. ↑ "General Population Census of Cambodia 2008 - Provisional population totals" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning. 3 September 2008.
  2. ↑ Article 6 of the "Convention between France and Siam Amending the Stipulations of the Treaty of 8 October 1904, Concerning the Territories and the Other Arrangements, Signed at Paris, the 13th February 1904."
  3. ↑ http://www.cambodia.gov.kh/unisql1/egov/english/province/siem_reap.html
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Siem Reap (province).
 Oddar Meanchey Province Preah Vihear Province
Banteay Meanchey Province
  Siem Reap Province  
Battambang Province Pursat Province Kampong Thom Province
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