Songkhla
Songkhla (Thai: สงขลา, pronounced [sǒŋ.kʰlǎː]), is a city (thesaban nakhon) in Songkhla Province of southern Thailand, near the border with Malaysia. Songkhla lies 968 km (601 mi) south of Bangkok and as of 2020 had a population of 61,758.
Songkhla
สงขลา (Thai) | |
|---|---|
Songkhla City | |
|
Seal | |
Songkhla Location in Thailand | |
| Coordinates: 7°12′22″N 100°35′48″E | |
| Country | Thailand |
| Province | Songkhla |
| District | Mueang Songkhla |
| Government | |
| • Type | City Municipality |
| • Mayor | Somsak Tantiseranet |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.27 km2 (3.58 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 11 m (36 ft) |
| Population (2020) | 61,758 |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
| Area code | (+66) 74 |
| Website | songkhlacity |
Despite being smaller than the neighboring city Hat Yai, Songkhla is the capital of Songkhla Province as well as the Mueang Songkhla District (Songkhla town district). Together with Hat Yai, Songkhla is part of the Greater Hat Yai-Songkhla Metropolitan Area (a conurbation with a population of around 800,000), the third largest metropolitan area in Thailand.
At the opening of Songkhla Lake to the Gulf of Thailand, Songkhla is a fishing town and also an important harbour. It is the major seaport on the east side of the Isthmus of Kra.