Kamphaeng Phet

Covering 8,607 square kilometres, Kamphaeng Phet is the fourth-largest province in the central region, bordered by Sukhothai and Phitsanulok to the north, Phichit to the east, Nakhon Sawan to the south, and Tak to the west. The Ping River runs through the province from north to south, providing irrigation for the eastern plains while the western highlands are forested mountains forming part of the Dawna Range. The province was known in the Sukhothai era as Chakangrao and formed a key defensive bastion for the kingdom. Kamphaeng Phet Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserves the ruins of Wat Chang Rob (temple with elephant buttresses), Wat Phra Kaeo, and sections of the ancient laterite city walls. The province has a population of around 712,000 and is a major producer of sugar cane and cassava.