Ko Kra (เกาะกระ) is a group of small rocky islets in the southern area of the
Gulf of Siam.
It is under the administration of
Nakhon Si Thammarat Province of
Thailand.
Geography
Ko Kra, located about 54 km from the nearest shore, consists of three islets: Ko Kra Yai, Ko Kra Klang and Ko Kra Lek, as well as one small rocky outcrop, Hin Ko Kra. The whole area surrounding these islets is a good diving spot owing to its relative remoteness.
Territorial dispute
The Ko Kra group, although barren and uninhabited, is part of a territorial dispute along with the islet of
Ko Losin.
The dispute over the
continental shelf boundary between
Malaysia and Thailand arises from the different baselines which the two countries adopt in calculating the equidistant line for boundary. Thailand's proclaimed baseline runs from the terminus at Kuala Tabar (the eastern terminus of the Malaysia-Thailand land border as defined by the
Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909) northwards to Ko Losin islet and then northwestwards to Ko Kra. Malaysia however does not regard Ko Losin as a valid baseline point and calculates the equidistant line on a baseline running along the shore.
Similarly named locations
This islet group should not be confused with other islands of the same name, like
Ko Kra in
Chumphon Province or
Mu Ko Kra (หมู่เกาะกระ) a group of islets to the west of
Ko Mak in
Trat Province. There is also a place by the name of Ko-kra in
Kayah State, mainland
Burma.
See also
Notes and References
KraCategory:Disputed islandsCategory:Territorial disputes of ThailandCategory:Territorial disputes of Malaysia
