Golok River

Coordinates: 6°14′40″N 102°05′26″E / 6.2445°N 102.0906°E / 6.2445; 102.0906
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Golok River
Maenam Kolok
Etymology'River of machete'
Native nameแม่น้ำโก-ลก (Thai)
Location
CountryMalaysia/Thailand
StateKelantan/Narathiwat
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationSankalakhiri Mountains
Mouth 
 • coordinates
6°14′40″N 102°05′26″E / 6.2445°N 102.0906°E / 6.2445; 102.0906
Length103km
Discharge 
 • locationGulf of Thailand
Basin features
BridgesBukit Bunga-Ban Buketa Bridge
Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge

The Golok River (Thai: แม่น้ำโก-ลก, RTGSMaenam Kolok, pronounced [mɛ̂ː.náːm koː.lók]; Malay: Sungai Golok) is a river that lies on the border between Malaysia and Thailand. The name of the river in Malay means 'river of machete'.[1]

The river borders the Malaysian state of Kelantan and the Thai province of Narathiwat. The friendship bridge connects the Malaysian town of Rantau Panjang and the Thai town of Su-ngai Kolok. Rantau Panjang is a duty-free zone.[1] Further upstream, a new friendship bridge connects the town of Bukit Bunga on the Malaysian side with the Thai town of Ban Buketa.

Course[edit]

The Golok River originates in the Sankalakhiri Mountains in Thailand's Sukhirin District, flowing northeast through Waeng, Su-ngai Kolok and Tak Bai Districts. It is 103 kilometres (64 mi) long. The area the river flows through, especially Sukhirin, used to be a prosperous gold mine since pre-Second World War period. Although today it is not as busy as before, but the gold panning career still continues for Sukhirin residents. The villagers use their gold dredging skills as an addition source of income such as promoting local tourism.[2] The river empties into the Gulf of Thailand at Tak Bai District, Narathiwat Province and Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan.

Flood risks[edit]

The Golok floods seasonally with the monsoon.[1] An unusually large flood occurred on 21 December 2009, causing an evacuation of parts of Kelantan.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Rantau Panjang & Golok River". Life in Penang, is more than beautiful. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  2. ^ Khemkhao, Amonrat (2019-09-11). "ชูอาชีพ "ร่อนทอง" จุดขายเที่ยวสุคิริน" [Raise the profession "gold panning" selling point for Sukirin tourism]. Thai Rath (in Thai). Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  3. ^ "Golok river floods Kelantan forcing 440 to Evacuate". Demotix. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2010-09-07.