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°ECoordinates: 13°21′N 103°51′E / 13.350°N 103.850°E
Country	Cambodia
Capital	Siem Reap
Government
• Governor	Khim Bun Song
Area
• Total	10,299 km^2 (3,976 sq mi)
Population (2008)[1]
• Total	896,309
• Density	87/km^2 (230/sq mi)
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]

1701	Angkor Chum	អង្គរជុំ
1702	Angkor Thum	អង្គរធំ
1703	Banteay Srei	បន្ទាយស្រី
1704	Chi Kraeng	ជីក្រែង
1706	Kralanh	ក្រលាញ់
1707	Puok	ពួក
1709	Prasat Bakong	ប្រាសាទបាគង
1710	Siem Reap	សៀមរាប
1711	Soutr Nikom	សូទ្រនិគម
1712	Srei Snam	ស្រីស្នំ
1713	Svay Leu	ស្វាយលើ
1714	Varin	វារិន្ទ

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

External links

• Siem Reap - The Gate to Angkor (Official Website of the Provincial Town Siem Reap on www.siemreap-town.gov.kh)