The Thai cabinet has approved a proposal from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to nominate Songkhla and its associated lagoon settlements for UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.

Deputy government spokesperson Kaenika Oonchit said that Songkhla and its associated lagoon settlements, which are located in four districts of the province, namely Ranot, Sathing Phra, Singhanakhon and Muang, have unique characteristics worthy of listing.

Songkhla Lake is a lagoon which is connected to the Gulf of Thailand and is the only inland lake in Thailand with brackish (slightly saline) water. This produces a unique and diverse ecological system.  The lake is also surrounded by historic human settlements, including the four ancient towns of Pakoh and Seeyung, Sathing Phra, Singgora fort and Bo Yang.

Kenika said that the current World Cultural Heritage sites does not include a site which has a lagoon surrounded by human settlements dating back many generations.