| Official Name: | Chat Trakan |
| Native Name: | ชาติตระการ |
| Native Name Lang: | th |
| Settlement Type: | District |
| Image Alt: | Chat Trakan Waterfall |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Thailand |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Phitsanulok |
| Subdivision Type2: | Seat |
| Subdivision Name2: | Pa Daeng |
| Subdivision Type3: | Tambon |
| Subdivision Type4: | Muban |
| Established Title: | District established |
| Population Total: | 38646 |
| Population As Of: | 2005 |
| Blank Name Sec1: | Postal code |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 65170 |
| Blank Name Sec2: | Geocode |
| Blank Info Sec2: | 6503 |
| Timezone: | ICT |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Coordinates: | 17.2767°N 100.5992°W |
Chat Trakan (Thai: ชาติตระการ, in Thai pronounced as /t͡ɕʰâːt trā.kāːn/) is the northernmost district (amphoe) of Phitsanulok province, central Thailand.
Mueang Chat Trakan was an ancient city of the same era as Mueang Nakhon Thai. Originally part of Nakhon Thai District, it was made a minor district (king amphoe) on 1 May 1969, consisting of the two tambon Chat Trakan and Pa Daeng.[1] It was upgraded to a full district on 1 April 1974.[2] It was a scene of conflict in the Thai–Laotian Border War (December 1987 – February 1988.)
Neighboring districts are (from the southeast clockwise) Na Haeo of Loei province, Nakhon Thai, Wang Thong, Wat Bot of Phitsanulok Province, Thong Saen Khan and Nam Pat of Uttaradit province. And to the east it borders Xaignabouli of Laos.
Chat Trakan lies within the Nan Basin, part of the Chao Phraya Watershed. The Khwae Noi River flows through Chat Trakan, as well as the lesser Kap (Thai: ลำน้ำคับ), Phak (Thai: ลำน้ำภาค) and Kleung (Thai: ลำน้ำคลึง) Rivers.
Namtok Chat Trakan National Park is in Chat Trakan District. The northeastern part of the district is in the southernmost prolongation of the Luang Prabang Range mountain area of the Thai highlands.[3]
The district is divided into six sub-districts (tambons), which are further subdivided into 72 villages (mubans). The township (thesaban tambon) Pa Daeng covers parts of tambons Pa Daeng and Tha Sakae. There are a further six tambon administrative organizations (TAO).
| No. | Name | Thai name | Villages | Pop. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Pa Daeng | ป่าแดง | 12 | 7,774 | ||
| 2. | Chat Trakan | ชาติตระการ | 9 | 4,608 | ||
| 3. | Suan Miang | สวนเมี่ยง | 10 | 5,559 | ||
| 4. | Ban Dong | บ้านดง | 10 | 7,809 | ||
| 5. | Bo Phak | บ่อภาค | 16 | 7,751 | ||
| 6. | Tha Sakae | ท่าสะแก | 15 | 5,145 |
There are 36 active Buddhist temples in Chat Trakan.[4]
Chat Trakan is a district on the outskirts of Phitsanulok province, more than 90% of which is reserved forest area.
Therefore, Chat Trakan and two neighboring districts, Nakhon Thai and Wat Bot, have the lowest prosperity index in Phitsanulok, lowest household income and highest household debt.[5]