The province is locatit on the Malay Peninsula. Tae the east it borders the lairge shallow Songkhla lake, while the wast is covered bi muntains o the Nakhon Si Thammarat chain. The Khao Pu - Khao Ya Naitional Pairk is locatit in these muntains at the border tae Trang.
Phatthalung wis umwhile kent as Mardelong (Jawi: مردلوڠ) in Malay, especially durin the time when the region came unner Muslim influence.[1]
Durin the reign o King Ramathibodi I o the Ayutthaya Kinrick in the 14t century Phatthalung became ane o twal ryal ceeties. At the end o the 18t century King Rama I submittit the ceety tae the Meenistry o Defense, which wis responsible for aw the soothren provinces. Durin the administrative reform bi King Chulalongkorn Phatthalung became pairt o the Monthon Nakhon Si Thammarat.