page_title: Ko Chang District
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Ko Chang District / History
caption_attribution_description: Own work/Photo personnelle. Je suis l'auteur de cette photo, prise dans la Salle du Souvenir au Fort-Musée Montbarrey, à Brest, lors de la cérémonie officielle commémorant le 60e anniversaire de la bataille navale de Koh Chang, le 17 janvier 2001. Utilisateur Svevo
context_page_description: Ko Chang is an amphoe in Trat Province, Thailand. It is on the Gulf of Thailand's eastern seaboard, 300 km from Bangkok, near the border with Cambodia.
  The island Ko Chang occupies most of the district's land area, along with several smaller islands. With an area of 210 km², Ko Chang is the third-largest island in Thailand by area, after Phuket and Ko Samui. The name Ko Chang means 'Elephant Island' and derives from its elephant-shaped headland. Despite the presence of elephants on the island, they are not indigenous. At present, there are eight villages on the island.
context_section_description: Prior to World War II, Ko Chang was little known. During this period, the few families there made a living growing coconuts and fruits.
  On 17 January 1941, Ko Chang was the scene of the Battle of Ko Chang between the Royal Thai Navy and a much stronger Vichy French naval squadron, in which the French won a decisive victory. Ko Chang Yutthanawi Day, which occurs in late-January at the Ko Chang Yutthanawi Memorial on Laem Ngop, commemorates the Royal Thai Navy's engagement against the French colonialists. There is an exhibition by the Royal Thai Navy, and merit-making and tribute rites are performed for those killed in the battle.
caption: Plaque commemorating the Ko Chang battle
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