Suphan Buri (, ) located in the central region of Thailand, is one of the country's 76 provinces (จังหวัด, changwat), the first-level administrative divisions. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi. As of 2018 the province counted a population of around 848,700, representing about 1.28% of the country's population. Toponymy The word suphan originates from the Sanskrit word Suvarna (Devanagari: सुवर्ण), meaning 'gold', and the word buri from Sanskrit purī (Devanagari: पुरी), meaning 'town' or 'city'. Hence the name of the province literally means 'city of gold'. Geography The terrain of the province is mostly low river plains, with small mountain ranges in the north and the west of the province. The southeastern part with the very low plain of the Tha Chin River is paddy rice farming area. The total forest area is or 11.7 percent of provincial area. There is one national park, along with eight other national parks, make up region 3 (Ban Pong) of Thailand's protected areas. Phu Toei National Park, History Suphan Buri might be the site of the legendary Suvarnabhumi, which is mentioned in very old Buddhist writings. However the first confirmed historical settlement was in the Dvaravati period, when the city was known as Mueang Thawarawadi Si Suphannaphumi ('the Dvaravati city of Suvarnabhumi'). Its founding took place c. 877–882. In the era of Ankorian king Jayavarman VII, inscription called Prasat Phra Khan (จารึกปราสาทพระขรรค์) was made and which mentions the name of Suvarnapura. Later it was called U Thong, and was once believed to be the home city of Prince U Thong, the founder of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. King Khun Luang Pha Ngua gave it the current name. Suphan Buri was a border city, and the site of several battles with the neighbouring Burmese. Economy The province is Thailand's largest producer of water chestnuts (, ), grown mainly in Mueang Suphan Buri, Sam Chuk, and the Si Prachan Districts of the province. About half of the province's 3,000 rai of cultivated water chestnuts are found in Tambon Wang Yang of Si Prachan. The vegetable was registered as a geographical indication (GI) product of Suphan Buri in 2017. The Thai dessert thapthim krop (), with water chestnuts as its main ingredient, was named one of the world's best 50 desserts in 2019 by CNN Travel. Symbols The provincial seal shows