Kratie Province in Cambodia

Map of Cambodia Highlighting Kratie Province.

• Country: Cambodia
• Capital  : Kratie'
• Area      : 11,09 km²
• ^{Population (2008)}
• ^{Total     : 318,523}
• ^{Density :29/km2} 

• ^{Time zone        : UTC+07}
• ^{Dialing code    : +855} 
• ^{IOS 3166 code : KH-10}
• ^{Districts           :  6}

^{1.   History}

The former Royal Capital Sampheak Borak during the Chenla Era is located in Sambo. In addition, Kratié has Vihear Sasar Muayroy Pagoda built in the 16th century. This pagoda is related to a Khmer legend Krapeur Nen Thun (Venerable Monk Thun, the Crocodile). Kratié has several temples built in the 8th century such as Khvas Pi, Pram, and Koh Kring that has perfect deities, ancient halls, Khmer ancient houses, and French-style buildings. The area near Kratié along the Mekong River was one of the most densely populated regions of the pre-Angkorian era of Cambodia.

 

Lon Nol was the province's governor in 1945. During foreign incursions and the civil wars into Cambodia, Kratié especially saw heavy fighting.During Operation Menu, Kratié was heavily bombed by the United States.Recovering unexploded ordnance and de-mining has been a major recent initiative.

On December 30, 1978, Vietnamese forces captured Kratié.

2. Geography

The Mekong River flows from the north to the south of the province; approximately 140 km of the river is located in Kratié.The river is home to Irrawaddy dolphins, fish, and birds.The flow of the Mekong River at Kratié town varies greatly. There are hundreds of seasonally flooded islands in the river.As of 2007, the Cambodian government planned to build a dam on the Mekong River near Kratié town.The province also contains many forests, the Phnom Pram Poan mountain range, Phnom Prech, and rubber plantations.Eastern Kratié is an important bird area.

The province is mostly covered in dense forest. Craters from Operation Menu bombings during the Vietnam War, some of which are filled with water, are still visible in the countryside.Some land in Kratié is used for agriculture, though a smaller percentage than elsewhere in Cambodia.

The province has a monsoonal climate, with a cool season from November to March, a hot season from March to May, and a rainy season from May to October. Flooding is frequent in Kratié; the Mekong may overflow by as much as 4 m during the rainy season.

Kratié is known for its attractive riverside scenery and its green villages and paddies, and the river dolphins.

Kratié's fisheries are part of the Upper Mekong River Zone, which is important support for migratory species and subsistence fishing but does not play a major role in commercial fishing.

Forests in Kratié tend to be open and less dense than elsewhere in Cambodia; they are generally made up of deciduous trees that lose their leaves during the dry season.