The best island on the planet: 18 facts about Phuket, which are worth knowing before the trip

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Chose a holiday destination in sunny Phuket? In order not to arrange a "blind date" with the largest and richest province of Thailand, we suggest that you get acquainted with the island in advance. Here are 18 interesting facts that will help you better know Phuket and plan your trip. We guarantee you will love the island hot and permanently!

Phuket (the aborigines call it Pu-Get) - the largest island of the Kingdom of Thailand. It lies near the western coast of the Andaman Sea. Two bridges connect the mainland of Phuket.

Phuket is one of 76 provinces in Thailand (the country's population is 69.5 million people). Tourism has made Phuket the richest region in the Kingdom.

Photo: chudu24.com

According to the Migration Service for 2013, 600,000 people live in Phuket. Only 360 905 of them are indigenous people - the rest are migrants and expats.

Cruise ships calling at Phuket in low season, anchored in the port of Ao Makham, 8 km from the southern coast of the island. From November to April, during the high season, when the weather is fine, the ships moor in the west of Phuket, at the end of Patong Beach and in the south of Kalim Beach.

Phuket is humid and hot throughout the year. The highest temperatures are from March to April. From May to October, the monsoon season dominates: in the mornings it is sunny and clear, short and heavy rains come in the afternoon and evening. The weather may deteriorate for a few days, but this does not prevent a good rest.

Photo: sunsuri-phuket.com

As a result of the earthquake in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004, Phuket was covered by a tsunami. 95% of resort complexes were damaged and destroyed. By February 2005, all of them were renovated and welcomed guests.

There are 22 buoys floating in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Thailand. In real time, they transmit data on the state of the seabed in order to notify the rescue services in time about earthquakes and tsunamis.

Mountains stretching from north to south, occupy 70% of the island.

Photo: ethancrowley.com

Through Phuket flows 9 large and small streams, but on the island there is no river.

Thekprasattri is Phuket's main street. It is a monument to the Heroines - brave women Thao Thep Kasatri and Thao Sri Suntor. In 1875 the Burmese attacked Phuket. The numerical advantage was on the side of the enemy. As a result of fierce battles, the governor and the majority of the soldiers of his army perished. The widow and sister of the governor gathered an army of women and began to keep the defenses of the city walls. Heroism was rewarded: the Burmese decided that they were opposed by a huge army, and retreated. So the sunny island was saved.

Throughout its history, Phuket has been an important port on the trade routes between India and China. It is often mentioned in the ship's journals of Portuguese, French, Dutch and English navigators.

Photo: en.wikipedia.org

The extraction and production of rubber is one of the main sources of the island's income since the 16th century.

Today 60% of the island is covered with plantations of palm and rubber trees. This allows Thailand to maintain the status of the world's largest producer of rubber and palm oil.

In addition to indigenous Thais, Phuket is home to ethnic Malays and Chinese, as well as sea gypsies. Most of the rural population of the region is Muslim.

Photo: thailandgolftrips.com

Patong - the most popular tourist area, where nightlife is boiling. From Thai, the name translates as "a forest filled with banana leaves."

Karon, Kata Noi and Kata Yai are the most popular beaches south of Patong. In the north, Kamala, Surin and Bangtao are in demand.

Coral forests of the Similan archipelago and the islands of Phi Phi are a dream of all lovers to swim with scuba diving, mask and fins.

After filming in the James Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun", the rock of Ko Tapu was renamed the "James Bond Island". This karst formation is visited annually by thousands of tourists.