Don Det

Don Det ( lo, ດອນເດດ), is an island in the Mekong River in the Si Phan Don ("Four Thousand Islands") archipelago in Champasak Province of southern Laos.

History

The Don Det–Don Khon railway was a -long narrow-gauge portage railway on the islands of Don Det and Don Khon, opened in 1893 to transport vessels, freight, and passengers along the Mekong River, and closed since the 1940s.

Geography

The walking path around the island is . Don Det is linked to its twin island Don Khon by a bridge.
Don Som, the closest island accessible by pirogue, is from Don Det.

There is a Buddhist temple and two primary schools on the northern part of the island.

) in relation with the soul of the deceased. This rope will not be incinerated and may be kept by the monks. Traditionally, cotton strings play an important role in ceremonies in Laos, like in the baci, and can be used in various ways at diverse occasions. In front of the coffin, there is a Buddhist money tree, religious item with authentic banknotes, an offering to the monks.
, File:Food_offerings_in_Laos.jpg, Day of the ghosts (''Boun kao padap din''), the people of the village of Don Det offer rice, biscuits and home-made cakes to the monks at the temple.
, File:River bank of Don Khon with stilt wooden houses at golden hour from Don Det Laos.jpg, View from Don Det: river bank of the twin island Don Khon, with stilt wooden houses.
, File:River_bank_of_Don_Khon_with_stilt_wooden_houses_and_leaning_Arecaceae_at_golden_hour_from_Don_Det_Laos.jpg, River bank of the island of Don Khon with stilt wooden houses, seen from Don Det with a leaning ''Arecaceae'' (palm trees) and colorful clouds.

Climate

Don Det features a tropical wet and dry climate. While the city is generally very warm throughout the year, it is noticeably cooler during December and January. Don Det also experiences wet and dry seasons, with the wet season from April until October, and the dry season during the remaining five months. Temperatures range from 15°C to 38°C.

Tourism

The Khone Phapheng Falls, a succession of impassable rapids that gave rise to the construction of the railway, are among the main features accessible from Don Det.
Freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins (''pakha''), an endangered species, are now extinct.

Wildlife

Irrawaddy dolphins, water buffaloes (''Bubalus bubalis''), common House Geckos (''Hemidactylus frenatus''), bronze grass skink (''Eutropis macularia''), and bioluminescent beetles :c:File:Close-up view of a bioluminescent beetle Elateroidea.jpg can be seen in Don Det.

Gallery

References

External links

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Populated places in Champasak Province
Populated places on the Mekong River

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