Koh Poulo Wai

Koh Wai, Khmer: កោះពូលូវៃ, also known as Poulo Wai or the Wai Islands,[1] is a group of two small wooded and uninhabited islands in the Gulf of Siam. The islands are located far away from the shore, 95 kilometres (59 miles) to the southwest of the coast of Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia. Administratively Koh Wai falls under Kampot Province. The Khmer word Koh (កោះ), means 'island' translated into English. Poulo Wai is of Malayan origin.[2]

This article is about the islands in Cambodia. For the island in Thailand, see Ko Wai.
Koh Poulo Wai
Koh Wai
កោះពូលូវៃ (Khmer)
Koh Poulo Wai is located in Cambodia
Koh Poulo Wai
Koh Poulo Wai
Geography
LocationCambodia - South East Asia
Coordinates9°55′N 102°54′E
Area3.9 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Length5.4 km (3.36 mi)
Width1.6–0.3 km (0.99–0.19 mi)
Coastline14 km (8.7 mi)
Administration
Cambodia
ProvinceKampot
Demographics
Ethnic groupsKhmer

Both islands are roughly 5 km long with a maximum width of about 1.5 km (0.9 miles). They are located 1.4 km (0.9 mi) from each other, separated by a channel of ¾ mile (1.2 km) wide. The depth of the channel is about 40 feet (12.2 metres). The west island is about 100 metres (330 ft) at its south-western end. The eastern island is around 61 metres (200 ft) and rock fringed.[3]

History

These islands were part of the basis of overlapping territorial claims between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam; the three nations used differing methods of measuring the extent of their territorial waters from the islands.[4]

In May 1975, the area around these islands and nearby Koh Tang was the site of the Mayaguez incident, the last combat action of the Vietnam War, which involved the rescue of the SS Mayaguez.[5] One month later, Vietnam People's Army forces seized the islands and there was a battle between Khmer Rouge and Vietnamese troops over the control of the islands. Finally, the Vietnamese evacuated Koh Wai in August.[6]

The Koh Wai islands were for a long time off-limits to tourists, but now they can be visited in organized excursions. Since the trip is too long to go and come back in the same day, visitors usually stay overnight on one of the islands.[7]

See also

References
  1. Poulo Wai
  2. "A List of Cambodian Islands". Visit Koh Rong. 2019-10-26. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  3. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-07-13. Retrieved 2014-11-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Vietnam’s First Maritime Boundary Agreement
  5. Wetterhahn, Ralph (2002). The Last Battle: The Mayaguez Incident and the end of the Vietnam War. Plume. p. 25. ISBN 0-452-28333-7.
  6. CBS Evening News for Friday, Jun 13, 1975 - Headline: South Vietnam, Cambodian Communists / Poulo Wai Island / Thai Cambodian Battle
  7. Sihanoukville, Islands
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