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Don Det

Coordinates: 13°58′23″N 105°55′22″E / 13.97306°N 105.92278°E / 13.97306; 105.92278
From Tilcayo Cats, the lean encyclopaedia by Tilcayo Knowledge Systems

Don Det
ດອນເດດ
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Interactive map of Don Det
Coordinates: 13°58′23″N 105°55′22″E / 13.97306°N 105.92278°E / 13.97306; 105.92278
CountryLaos
ProvinceChampasak
Population
 • Religions
Buddhism
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)

Don Det (Lao: ດອນເດດ) is an island in the Mekong River in the Si Phan Don ("Four Thousand Islands") archipelago in Champasak Province of southern Laos.[1]

History

The Don Det–Don Khon railway was a 7-kilometer (4.3 mi)-long narrow-gauge portage railway on the islands of Don Det and Don Khon, opened in 1893 to transport vessels, freight, and passengers along the Mekong River, and closed since the 1940s.[2][3]

Geography

The walking path around the island is 7.2 km (4.47 mi). Don Det is linked to its twin island Don Khon by a bridge. Don Som, the closest island accessible by pirogue, is 250 m (820 ft) from Don Det.[4]

There is a Buddhist temple and two primary schools on the northern part of the island.[5]

Climate

Don Det features a tropical wet and dry climate. While the city is generally very warm throughout the year, it is noticeably cooler during December and January. Don Det also experiences wet and dry seasons, with the wet season from April until October, and the dry season during the remaining five months. Temperatures range from 15 °C to 38 °C.[6]

Tourism

The Khone Phapheng Falls, a succession of impassable rapids that gave rise to the construction of the railway, are among the main features accessible from Don Det.[4][7] Freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins (pakha), an endangered species,[8][9] are now extinct.[citation needed]

Wildlife

Irrawaddy dolphins,[8][9] water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), common house geckos (Hemidactylus frenatus),[10] bronze grass skink (Eutropis macularia),[11] and bioluminescent beetles[12] can be seen in Don Det.

References

  1. ↑ "Don Det and Don Khon". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 5 June 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  2. ↑ The Railway Atlas of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, White Lotus, 2010.
  3. ↑ Mad About the Mekong: Exploration and Empire in South East Asia, Harper Collins, 2005.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Don Det Google Map". Google Maps. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  5. ↑ c:File:Food offerings in Laos.jpg
  6. ↑ "Don Det & Don Khon in detail – Climate". Lonely Planet. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 28 March 2020.[not specific enough to verify]
  7. ↑ "Waterfalls". Tourism Laos. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Irrawaddy Dolphin". World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Status Of Irrawaddy Dolphin Raised To 'Endangered'". The Irrawaddy. 8 December 2017. Archived from the original on 25 October 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  10. ↑ c:File:Hemidactylus frenatus mating, ventral view.jpg
  11. ↑ c:File:Eutropis (skink) eating a frog.jpg
  12. ↑ c:File:Close-up view of a bioluminescent beetle Elateroidea.jpg
  • Wikivoyage logo Don Det travel guide from Wikivoyage
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This page contains text imported from the English Wikipedia (source revision 1358366198). Its authors are credited under CC BY-SA 4.0: see the attribution record.