Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi, approximately 150 km from Thailand’s
capital Bangkok, lies in the Klong River valley in amongst
sugar cane plantations and Sapphire mines hidden between
mountainous jungle terrains.
Aside from its deposits of Blue Sapphire, Kanchanaburi
is famous for its single-line railway constructed between
1942 and 1943 under the Japanese occupation of Thailand
during World War II. The bridge was immortalized in
the film epic ‘The Bridge Over The River Kwai.’
The Kanchanaburi and Bo-Phloi mines reached their zenith
in the late 80's to early 90's producing millions of
carats of Sapphire. However, these sources are producing
smaller and smaller quantities every year and resources
are expected to be completely exhausted within the next
five years.