Located in the valley of the Ping River, the Bhumipol Dam in Sam Ngao district, Tak province, is a dam constructed of concrete in a huge arc shape and is the largest in Southeast Asia. The late king His Majesty King Bhumipol gave his name to the dam project during a ceremony on May 17, 1964. In a quote from his speech on that day he says,

‘I agree with the Government that this first multipurpose project of Thailand would be the start of the country’s further economic development. Water is an essential part of man’s livelihood. Water and electricity help promote prosperity of the citizens. Therefore it is necessary to increase the supply of water and electricity to keep up with demands from its citizens’.