Mae Fa Luang (, ) is a district (''

amphoe An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', , )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the Provinces of Thailand, provinces, and are analogous to count ...

'') in the northern part of

Chiang Rai province Chiang Rai (, ; , ) is one of Thailand's seventy-six Provinces of Thailand, provinces that lies in Northern Thailand#Regional classification of northern Thailand, upper northern Thailand and is Thailand's northernmost province. It is bordered ...

, northern

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

History

The area of Mae Fa Luang was separated from Mae Chan district and created as a minor district (''

king amphoe An amphoe (sometimes also ''amphur'', , )—usually translated as "district"—is the second level administrative subdivision of Thailand. Groups of ''amphoe'' or districts make up the provinces, and are analogous to counties. The chief district ...

'') on 1 April 1992. Originally it was composed of the three ''tambons'', Thoet Thai, Mae Salong Nai, and Mae Salong Nok. A fourth sub-district, Mae Fa Luang, was created in 1996. The minor district was upgraded to a full district on 5 December 1996.

Etymology

The name ''Mae Fa Luang'' was given by Princess Mother

Srinagarindra Princess Srinagarindra (; ; 21 October 1900 – 18 July 1995) born Sangwan Talapat (; ) was a member of the Royal Thai Family. She was part of the House of Mahidol, which is descended from the Chakri dynasty and was founded by Prince Mahidol ...

, who was commonly known as "Mae Fa Luang" (lit. 'royal mother from the sky') by the hill tribespeople of the area.

Geography

Neighboring districts are (from the east clockwise):

Mae Sai ''Mae Sai'' (, ; Shan: , ), is the district town of Mae Sai District in the far north of Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Mae Sai is a major border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar; the town of Tachileik, in Shan State is across the bridge. ...

, Mae Chan, and Mueang Chiang Rai of Chiang Rai Province and Mae Ai of

Chiang Mai province Chiang Mai is the largest Provinces of Thailand, province (''changwat'') of Thailand by area. It lies in Northern Thailand#Regional classification of northern Thailand, upper northern Thailand and has a population of 1.78 million people. It ...

. To the northwest is the

Shan State Shan State (, ; , ) is a administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos (Louang Namtha Province, Louang Namtha and Bokeo Provinces) to the east, and Thailand (Chiang Rai Province, Chia ...

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

Administration

Central administration

Mae Fa Luang is divided into four subdistricts (''

tambon ''Tambon'' (, ) is a local governmental unit in Thailand. Below district (''amphoe'') and province ('' changwat''), they form the third administrative subdivision level. there were 7,255 tambons, not including the 180 ''khwaeng'' of Bangkok, whi ...

s''), which are further subdivided into 77 administrative villages (''

muban Muban (; , ) is the lowest Administrative divisions of Thailand, administrative sub-division of Thailand. Usually translated as 'village' and sometimes as 'hamlet (place), hamlet', they are a subdivision of a tambon (subdistrict). , there were 74 ...

s'').

Local administration

There are four subdistrict administrative organizations (SAO) in the district: * Thoet Thai (Thai: ) consisting of subdistrict Thoet Thai. * Mae Salong Nai (Thai: ) consisting of subdistrict Mae Salong Nai. * Mae Salong Nok (Thai: ) consisting of subdistrict Mae Salong Nok. * Mae Fa Luang (Thai: ) consisting of subdistrict Mae Fa Luang.

References

External links

*
amphoe.com
Mae Fa Luang {{ChiangRai-geo-stub