Geography of Thailand

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Template:Short description Template:Country geography

Detailed map of Thailand

Thailand is a sovereign state located in the center of Mainland Southeast Asia. The country extends from the southeastern foothills of the Himalayas to the Mekong river, further south to the Gulf of Thailand, and roughly to the middle of the Malay Peninsula and the Andaman Sea of ​​the Indian Ocean. It has a total size of Template:Convert which is the 50th largest in the world.<ref name="cia1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref> The land area lies between latitudes 5° 37' South and 20° 27' North, and between the longitude 97° 22' West and 105° 37' East.<ref name=":5" />

Thailand shares a Template:Convert long international land boundary with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The nation's axial position influenced many aspects of Thailand's society and culture.<ref name=":08">Template:Cite book</ref> Southern Thailand is the only land route from mainland Asia to Malaysia and Singapore. It has an exclusive economic zone of Template:Convert.<ref name=":12" />

Composition and geography

Location

A fertile floodplain and tropical monsoon climate, ideally suited to wet-rice (tham na) cultivation, attracted settlers to this central area in preference to the marginal uplands and the highlands of the northern region or the Khorat Plateau to the northeast.<ref name=":08" />

By the 11th century AD, a number of loosely connected rice-growing and trading states flourished in the upper Chao Phraya Valley.<ref name=":08" /> They broke free from domination of the Khmer Empire, but from the middle of the 14th century gradually came under the control of the Ayutthaya Kingdom at the southern extremity of the floodplain.<ref name=":08" />

Successive capitals, built at various points along the river, became centers of great Thai kingdoms based on rice cultivation and international commerce.<ref name=":08" /> Unlike the neighboring Khmer and Burmese, the Thai continued to look outward across the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea toward foreign ports of trade.<ref name=":08" />

European colonisation of Southeast Asia brought a new phase of Southeast Asian commerce in the late-1800s. Thailand (then called Siam) was able to maintain its independence as a buffer zone between British-controlled Burma to the west, British Malaya to the south, and French Indochina to the east.<ref name=":08" /> However, Thailand lost over 50% of its former territory to the expanding claims of French Indochina until 1907. Its central location made the Kingdom of Thailand's position a regional hub that has greatly influenced its society, culture and history. Southern Thailand has a long, narrow shape. It is the only land connection to Malaysia and Singapore.

Mountains

Template:See also

The mountain ranges that run parallel from north to south across Mainland Southeast Asia are one of Thailand's most distinctive geographical features.<ref name="コトバンク1557462" /> The country's highest peak is Doi Inthanon, with an elevation of 2,565 meters.<ref name="Doi Inthanon" /> Major mountain ranges include the Thanon Thong Chai Range, the Daen Lao Range on Thailand's northern edge, and the Tenasserim Range on the border with Myanmar. The average elevation decreases as one moves south.Template:Sfn There are no volcanoes.<ref>No.530 海を漂う軽石 富山市科学博物館、2022年4月1日。2023年10月15日閲覧。</ref> There are 10 mountains over Template:Convert. 148 mountains exceed Template:Convert.

Northern Thailand's mountainous regions like Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon have chilly air and misty mornings.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref> However, at high altitudes it does not get colder than 5 °C to 10 °C due to the tropical climate.<ref name=":7" /> There is no snow and frost is rare in the coldest months.<ref name=":7" /> In 1955, snow-like frost was reported in Doi Inthanon.<ref name=":7" />

The 10 tallest mountains in Thailand are located in Northern Thailand. The highest peaks in each part of Thailand are:

Rank Name Thai name Range Province Elevation

(m)

Observations
1 Doi Inthanon Template:Lang Thanon Thong Chai Chiang Mai Template:Convert <ref name="Doi Inthanon">Doi Inthanon National Park Template:Webarchive</ref> Highest point in Thailand. Formerly known as Doi Luang
2 Doi Pha Hom Pok Template:Lang Daen Lao Chiang Mai 2,285 <ref>Doi Fahhompok National Park Template:Webarchive</ref> Donner: 2,296 m; highest peak of the Daen Lao Range on the Thai side of the border
3 Doi Chiang Dao Template:Lang Daen Lao Chiang Mai 2,175 <ref name="Donner">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:RP Also known as Doi Luang Chiang Dao. 2,225 m in some sources
4 Khao Kacheu La Template:Lang Tak 2,152 <ref name="gmgroup.in.th">GMCAR VOL.13 NO. 185 December 2008 Template:In lang</ref>
5 Phu Soi Dao Template:Lang Luang Prabang Range Uttaradit 2,120 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Highest point of the Luang Prabang Range in Thailand
6 Phu Khe Template:Lang Luang Prabang Nan 2,079 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
7 Phu Lo Template:Lang Luang Prabang Nan 2,077 <ref name="gmgroup.in.th" /> Also known as Doi Lo<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
8 Doi Mae Tho Template:Lang Khun Tan Chiang Rai 2,031 <ref name="Khun Chae">Template:Cite web</ref> Highest point of the Khun Tan Range; also known as Doi Lang Ka or Doi Langka Luang
9 Doi Mae Ya Template:Lang Mae Hong Son 2,005 <ref>Thai travelTemplate:Dead link</ref>
10 Doi Phong Sa Yan Template:Lang Mae Hong Son 2,004 <ref name="gmgroup.in.th" />

Shape

Elephant shape of Thailand geographic map 2025

The geographic shape of Thailand resembles an elephant's head with a long trunk.<ref name=":22">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> There are 2 big ears, the Bay of Bangkok is a mouth and Southern Thailand is a long trunk that reaches down the Malay Peninsula.<ref name=":4" /> The westside is the front of the head. The elephant holds deep cultural significance and it's a national symbol of Thailand.<ref name=":22" /><ref name="Thai_Government2">Template:Cite journal</ref> The elephant also symbolizes Thailand’s natural heritage and fills a vital role in the ecosystems of the region.<ref name=":8" />

Plains

Thailand has large plains, valleys and basins.

Forests

The forest cover rate was 63% in the 1940s, but declined to 53.3% in the 1960s and 26.6% in 1991.Template:Sfn It had been declining due to timber exports, urbanization, and development.Template:Sfn Since the late 1980s, the decline has been halted since protective measures such as banning logging of natural forests were implemented.Template:Sfn As of 2020, the Royal Forest Department has classified the country's forests as 31.6% and 38.9% according to the FAO, remaining stable.Template:SfnTemplate:Efn

The Royal Forest Department classifies the country's forests into six categories: mangrove/coastal forest, evergreen forest, evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest, deciduous dipterocarp forest, and savanna.Template:Sfn Exotic plantations such as eucalyptus and rubber are classified as agricultural land.Template:Sfn Of these, mangrove forests and coastal forests are more prevalent in the south and east, mixed deciduous forests in the north, and deciduous dipterocarp forests and savannas in the northeast.Template:Sfn

Rivers

Template:See also

The main rivers are the Chao Phraya River and the Mekong,<ref name="Britannica" /> as well as the Salween River, Mae Klong, Mun River, Chi River, Tha Chin River, and Bang Pakong River.<ref>Knowledge - Basin Informationタイ水資源局、2023年10月22日閲覧。</ref> Southern Thailand has short and steep rivers due to the narrow peninsula.Template:Sfn The Mekong is partially a natural border between Thailand and Laos for 920 km. It flows from the Golden Triangle in Northern Thailand to Khong Chiam district in Northeastern Thailand.

These are the 10 longest rivers of Thailand:

No. River name Thai name Province Length

(km)

Tributary of Refs
1 Mekong แม่น้ำโขง Bueng Kan, Chiang Rai, Loei, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Ubon Ratchathani 920 (part in Thailand) -
2 Chi River แม่น้ำชี Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Ubon Ratchathani 765 Mun River
3 Nan River แม่น้ำน่าน Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit 740 Chao Phraya River
4 Yom River แม่น้ำยม Chiang Rai, Nakhon Sawan, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phrae 700 Nan River
5 Ping River แม่น้ำปิง Chiang Mai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lamphun, Nakhon Sawan, Tak 658 Chao Phraya River
6 Mun River แม่น้ำมูล Buriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani 641 Mekong River
7 Pa Sak River แม่น้ำป่าสัก Ayutthaya, Loei, Lopburi, Phetchabun, Saraburi 513 Chao Phraya River
8 Wang River แม่น้ำวัง Chiang Rai, Lampang, Tak 392 Ping River
9 Khwae Yai River แม่น้ำแควใหญ่ Kanchanaburi, Tak 380 Mae Klong
10 Chao Phraya แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, Bangkok (special district) 372 -

Lakes

There are around 8000 natural lakes and swamps.<ref name=":6" /> This includes a few large lakes and thousands of small lakes. Songkhla lake is the largest natural lake at Template:Convert.

These are the 9 largest lakes of Thailand:

Rank Name Thai name Region Province Municipalities Type Water salinity Area (km2) Max Depth (m) Altitude (m) Volume (km3)
1 Songkhla Lake ทะเลสาบสงขลา Southern Thailand Phatthalung province Natural lake, lagoon lake 1040 5-6 0 1.6
2 Bueng Boraphet บึงบอระเพ็ด Central Thailand Nakhon Sawan province freshwater swamp and lake 224 4.4 25
3 Cheow Lan Lake เชี่ยวหลาน Southern Thailand Surat Thani province artificial lake 185 90 200
4 Nong Han Lake หนองหาน Northeastern Thailand Sakon Nakhon province freshwater lake 125.2 10 158
5 Bueng Khong Long Lake ทะเลสาบบึงโขงหลง Northeastern Thailand Bueng Kan reservoir lake 22 1 181
6 Phayao Lake กว๊านพะเยา Northern Thailand Phayao province freshwater lake 19.8 4 393
7 Bueng Si Fai บึงสีไฟ Central Thailand Phichit Province freshwater lake 8.6 2 480
8 Chiang Saen Lake ทะเลสาบเชียงแสน Northern Thailand Chiang Rai Province freshwater lake 4.3 4 332.7
9 Tung Kula Lake ทะเลสาบทุ่งกุลา Northeastern Thailand Surin province artificial lake, reservoir 1.2 4 129

Islands

Template:See also There are approximately 1,430 islands.<ref>Incredible Islands in Thailand ザ・タイムズ・オブ・インディア、2023年3月9日。2023年10月22日閲覧。</ref> They are relatively small-sized islands and uninhabited islets. Many islands are protected areas in national parks or wildlife sanctuaries. Most islands are near the coasts of Southern Thailand and Eastern Thailand. The largest island is Phuket Template:Convert in the Andaman Sea.<ref name="TAT">Template:Cite web</ref>

These are the 10 largest islands of Thailand:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rank Island name Thai name Area

(km2)

Area

(sq mi)

Island group
1 Phuket ภูเก็ต 543 209.65
2 Ko Samui เกาะสมุย 229 88
3 Ko Chang เกาะช้าง 211 81
4 Ko Tarutao เกาะตะรุเตา 152 58.68
5 Ko Pha-ngan เกาะพะงัน 125 48
6 Ko Kut เกาะกูด 105 40
7 Ko Yao Yai เกาะยาวใหญ่ 92 35.5
8 Ko Phra Thong เกาะพระทอง 88 33.97
9 Ko Lanta Yai เกาะลันตาใหญ่ 81 31
10 Ko Yao Noi เกาะยาว 36 13.89

Geology

Present-day Thailand is theorized to have formed during the Triassic period when two continental fragments: Shan-Thai and Cimmeria formed during the breakup of Gondwana.Template:Sfn Shan-Thai and Cimmeria collided and merged, eventually moving northward and connecting with Laurasia.Template:Sfn Geologically, Thailand is divided into the Western Zone, which belongs to the Shan-Thai terrane; the Northeastern Zone, which belongs to the Indochina Block; and the Central Zone, which is located between the Western and Northeastern Zones.Template:Sfn

The northeastern part of Thailand is a relatively stable plateau, with only the Mesozoic, Jurassic and Cretaceous sandstone and shale being uplifted by Tertiary tectonic activity.[30] Most of the rest of the country exhibits a complex geological structure, consisting primarily of Paleozoic limestone and other sedimentary rocks, and Precambrian metamorphic rocks.Template:Sfn Late Mesozoic granite is found in the Western Zone, while Paleozoic and Mesozoic neutral or acidic volcanic rocks are abundant in the Central Zone.Template:Sfn

Although seismic activity is not particularly high, there are 13 known active faults, mainly in the northwest and central-southwest, and in 2014 the northern part of the country experienced one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded (the 2014 Mae Lao earthquake), measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>

General soil conditions

Type Description Map
Soils of the alluvial plains and the lower terraces
  • Regosols on beach and dune sand
  • Alluvial soils on recent alluvium (fresh water alluvium, B a brackish water alluvium, M a marine alluvium).
  • Peat and Muck soils
  • Low - Humic Gley soils on semi-recent and old alluvium
  • Low - Humic Gley soils and noncalcic Brown soils on semi-recent alluvium
  • Low- Humic Gley soils and Gray Podzolic soils or Red - Yellow Podzolic soils on old alluvium
General soil conditions of Thailand map, 1967
Soils of the higher terraces and the low plateaus
  • Gray Podzolic soils on old alluvium
  • Red - Yellow Podzolic soils on old alluvium
  • Latosols, mainly on old alluvium, but including Latosols on materials from basalt (Chanthaburi)
  • Grumusols, Rendzinas and related soils on alluvial and residual materials, associated with limestone and basalt
  • Red- Brown Earths on alluvial and residual materials, associated with limestone
  • Reddish - brown lateritic soils on materials from intermediate to basic rocks.
Soils of the Hills and the mountains
  • Red - Yellow Podzolic soils; mostly hilly, on materials from acid to intermediate rocks.
  • Steep Land, intermediate to basic rocks, mainly Red - yellow Podzolic soils and reddish - Brown Lateritic soils
  • Steep Land, acid to intermediate rocks, mainly red - yellow Podzolic soils
  • Steep Land, limestone crags and Red - Brown Earths
  • Lava plateaus and volcanos, shallow undifferentiated soils.

Main land forms

Type Description Map
Land forms in transported material
  • Beach and dune formations
  • Active and former tidal flats of recent marine and brackish water deposits
  • Former tidal flats of older brackish water deposits
  • Flood plains of recent river alluvium
  • Low alluvial terraces of semi-recent and old alluvium
  • High alluvial terraces and fans of old alluvium and colluvium
Main landforms of Thailand soil formation map, 1972
Land forms in organic material
  • Depressions with peat and muck
Land forms in residual material
  • Dissected erosion surfaces and structural plateaux occuring over various rocks.
  • Lava plateaux and volcano remnants
  • Limestone outcrops
  • Hills and mountains

Soils and surface rocks

Type Description Map
Soils and surface rocks

(estimated conditions)

  1. Bangkok dark heavy clay: profiles not well developed.
  2. Ongkarak clays: marked profile development. Soils very acid.
  3. Thachin clays: saline mangrove swamps and grass lands. Fresh water swamps in the interior.
  4. Kampangsaen loams: medium textured soils with strips of heavier darker soils. Irrigation needed for effective crop production.
  5. Chiengmai loams: recent alluvial soils and some terraces, especially in mountain valleys.
  6. Yom loams and clays: swamps and natural levees between the Yom and Nan rivers in the upper central valley.
  7. Bangkla silt loams: light colored and infertile.
  8. Lopburi clays: calcareous, with marl below. Includes other clays back from the rivers in the upper central valley.
  9. Chaibadan clays: black, shallow and infertile, from igneous rocks.
  10. Chantaburi clays: red, friable, deep , from igneous rocks.
  11. Krabin gravelly loam: red with abundant ferruginous concretions.
  12. Korat fine sandy loams: often with pisolitic laterite in the subsoil. Includes Kumpawapi sandy loams: deeper soils on elevations, without a laterite horizon.
  13. Roi Et fine sandy loams: lower portion of type 5 diked and planted to rice. Most often these areas in type 5 too small to plot on map of this scale.
  14. Gularonghai silt loams: flat grassy plains. Not suited for crop production unless waters controlled and fertilizers applied.
  15. Pattani coastal soils: sandy ridges alternating with strips of low clay rice soils.
  16. Limestone buttes: often precipitous, usually rough topography. Includes some lower, heavy soils from weathering of limestone.
  17. Kuntan sandy loams: shallow and steep, soils from granitic and metamorphic rocks topography hilly to mountainous.
  18. Sritamarat sandy and coarse sandy loams: the footslopes of granitic mountains.
  19. Quartzitic and silicious sandstone hills and the sandy soils from these rocks. Soils usually shallow; at times stony.
  20. Pakchong loams: from shales, slates, conglomerates, limestones, etc. Textures usually much heavier than the soils mapped under type 42.
  21. Rough mountainous land from undifferentiated rocks: Soils usually shallow, steep and stony. Crop production by Kaingining.
Provisional map of soils and surface rocks of Thailand 1949

Topography and drainage

Topographic map of Thailand.

Template:See also

The most conspicuous features of Thailand's terrain are high mountains, a central plain, and an upland plateau.<ref name=":08" /> Mountains cover much of northern Thailand and extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula.<ref name=":08" /> The central plain is a lowland area drained by the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries, the country's principal river system, which feeds into the delta at the head of the Bay of Bangkok.<ref name=":08" /> The Chao Phraya system drains about one-third of the nation's territory.<ref name=":08" /> In the northeastern part of the country the Khorat Plateau, a region of gently rolling low hills and shallow lakes, drains into the Mekong River via the Mun River.<ref name=":08" /> The Mekong system empties into the South China Sea and includes a series of canals and dams.<ref name=":08" />

Together, the Chao Phraya and Mekong systems sustain Thailand's agricultural economy by supporting wet-rice cultivation and providing waterways for the transport of goods and people.<ref name=":08" /> In contrast, the distinguishing natural features of peninsular Thailand are long coastlines, offshore islands, and mangrove swamps.<ref name=":08" /> A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were Template:Convert of tidal flats in Thailand, making it the 45th ranked country in terms of tidal flat extent.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Area

Thailand is the 50th largest country in the world and the 3rd largest country in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and Myanmar.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>

Total Land Water Comparative area
  • Template:Convert.<ref name="cia1" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" />
  • Country rank in the world: 50th.<ref name=":3" />

Boundaries

Land boundaries Coastline Water

Maritime claims

Territorial sea Exclusive economic zone Continental shelf

Extreme points

Extreme elevations

Heading Location Province Bordering entity Coordinates Ref
North Mae Sai District Chiang Rai Province Myanmar Template:Coord
South Betong District Yala Province Malaysia Template:Coord
East Khong Chiam District Ubon Ratchathani Province Laos Template:Coord
West Mae Sariang District Mae Hong Son Province Myanmar Template:Coord

Extreme altitudes

Extremity Name Thai name Altitude Province Coordinates Ref
Highest Doi Inthanon ดอยอินทนนท์ Template:Convert Chiang Mai Province Template:Coord
Lowest

(man-made)

Boh Yai mine<ref name="bohyai">Template:Cite web</ref> เหมืองบ่อยาย Template:Convert<ref name="bohyai"/> Kanchanaburi Province Abandoned mine, closed in 1997. Surveyed up to -106 m.<ref name="bohyai"/>
Lowest

(natural)

Gulf of Thailand อ่าวไทย Template:Convert Surrounding provinces

Regions & provinces

Map of the six geographical regions of Thailand

Template:Main

Thailand is a unitary state; the administrative services of the executive branch are divided into three levels by the Law on the Organization of National Government, BE 2534 (1991): central, provincial and local. Thailand's regions are divided into a total of 76 provinces (จังหวัด , changwat) plus Bangkok, which is a special administrative area. These are first-level administrative divisions.

The National Research Council divides Thailand into six geographical regions, based on natural features including landforms and drainage, as well as human cultural patterns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They are:

  • North
  • Northeast
  • Central
  • East
  • West
  • South<ref>Mundus. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft. 1981. p. 65. Retrieved 17 January 2012.</ref>

Although Bangkok geographically is part of the central plain, as the capital and largest city this metropolitan area may be considered in other respects a separate region.<ref name=":08" />

Each of the six geographical regions differs from the others in population, basic resources, natural features, and level of social and economic development.<ref name=":08" /> The diversity of the regions is in fact the most pronounced attribute of Thailand's physical setting.<ref name=":08" />

Name Thai name Area total Provinces Description Image
Northern Thailand ภาคเหนือ 96,077 km2<ref name="RFD">Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Collapsible list

Northern Thailand is a mountainous area. Parallel mountain ranges extend from the Daen Lao Range (ทิวเขาแดนลาว), in the southern region of the Shan Hills, in a north-south direction, the Dawna Range (ทิวเขาดอยมอนกุจู) forming the western border of Thailand between Mae Hong Son and the Salween River,<ref>Northern Thailand Template:Webarchive</ref> the Thanon Thong Chai Range (เทือกเขาถนนธงชัย), the Khun Tan Range (ดอยขุนตาน), the Phi Pan Nam Range (ทิวเขาผีปันน้ำ), as well as the western part of the Luang Prabang Range (ทิวเขาหลวงพระบาง).<ref>ดร.กระมล ทองธรรมชาติ และคณะ, สังคมศึกษา ศาสนาและวัฒนธรรม ม.1, สำนักพิมพ์ อักษรเจริญทัศน์ อจท. จำกัด, 2548, หน้า 24-25</ref>

These high mountains are incised by steep river valleys and upland areas that border the central plain.<ref name=":08" /> Most rivers, including the Nan, Ping, Wang, and Yom, unite in the lowlands of the lower-north region and the upper-central region. The Ping River and the Nan River unite to form the Chao Phraya River. The northeastern part is drained by rivers flowing into the Mekong basin, like the Kok and Ing. The Thi Lo Su Waterfall in Tak province is claimed to be the tallest and highest waterfall in Thailand.

Traditionally, these natural features made possible several different types of agriculture, including wet-rice farming in the valleys and shifting cultivation in the uplands.<ref name=":08" /> The forested mountains also promoted a spirit of regional independence.<ref name=":08" /> Forests, including stands of teak and other economically useful hardwoods that once dominated the north and parts of the northeast, had diminished by the 1980s to 130,000 km2.<ref name=":08" /> In 1961 they covered 56% of the country, but by the mid-1980s forestland had been reduced to less than 30% of Thailand's total area.<ref name=":08" />

Northern Thailand
Northeastern Thailand ภาคตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ 167,718 km2<ref name="TDD">Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Collapsible list

The northeast (aka Isan), with its poor soils, is not favoured agriculturally.<ref name=":08" /> However, sticky rice, the staple food of the region, which requires flooded, poorly drained paddy fields, thrives and where fields can be flooded from nearby streams, rivers and ponds, often two harvests are possible each year. Cash crops such as sugar cane and manioc are cultivated on a vast scale, and to a lesser extent, rubber. Silk production is an important cottage industry and contributes significantly to the economy.

The region consists mainly of the dry Khorat Plateau which in some parts is extremely flat, and a few low but rugged and rocky hills, the Phu Phan Mountains.<ref name=":08" /> The short monsoon season brings heavy flooding in the river valleys.<ref name=":08" /> Unlike the more fertile areas of Thailand, the northeast has a long dry season, and much of the land is covered by sparse grasses.<ref name=":08" /> Mountains ring the plateau on the west and the south, and the Mekong delineates much of the northern and eastern rim.<ref name=":08" /> Some varieties of traditional medicinal herbs, particularly of the Genus Curcuma, family Zingiberaceae, are indigenous to the region.

Northeastern Thailand
Central Thailand ภาคกลาง 91,798.64 km2

Template:Collapsible list

The "heartland", central Thailand, is a natural self-contained basin often termed "the rice bowl of Asia".<ref name=":08" /> The complex irrigation system developed for wet-rice agriculture in this region provided the necessary economic support to sustain the development of the Thai state from the 13th century Sukhothai Kingdom to contemporary Bangkok.<ref name=":08" />

Here the rather flat unchanging landscape facilitated inland water and road transport.<ref name=":08" /> The fertile area was able to sustain a dense population, 422 people per square kilometre in 1987, compared with an average of 98 for the country as a whole.<ref name=":08" /> The terrain of the region is dominated by the Chao Phraya and its tributaries and by the cultivated paddy fields.<ref name=":08" />

Metropolitan Bangkok, the focal point of trade, transport, and industrial activity, is on the southern edge of the region at the head of the Gulf of Thailand and includes part of the Chao Phraya delta.<ref name=":08" />

Central Thailand
Eastern Thailand ภาคตะวันออก 34,481 km2

Template:Collapsible list

Eastern Thailand lies between the Sankamphaeng Range, which forms the border of the northeastern plateau to the north, and the Gulf of Thailand to the south. The western end of the Cardamom Mountains, known in Thailand as Thio Khao Banthat, extends into eastern Thailand. The geography of the region is characterised by short mountain ranges alternating with small basins of short rivers which drain into the Gulf of Thailand.

Fruit is a major component of agriculture in the area, and tourism plays a strong part in the economy. The region's coastal location has helped promote the Eastern Seaboard industrial development, a major factor in the economy of the region.

Eastern Thailand
Western Thailand ภาคตะวันตก 53,769 km2

Template:Collapsible list

Thailand's long mountainous border with Myanmar continues south from the north into western Thailand with the Tenasserim Hills, known in Thailand as Thio Khao Tanaosi (เทือกเขาตะนาวศรี). The geography of the western region of Thailand, like the north, is characterised by high mountains and steep river valleys.

Western Thailand hosts much of Thailand's less-disturbed forest areas. Water and minerals are also important natural resources. The region is home to many of the country's major dams, and mining is an important industry in the area.

Western Thailand
Southern Thailand ภาคใต้ 73,848 km2

Template:Collapsible list

Southern Thailand, part of a narrow peninsula, is distinctive in climate, terrain, and resources.<ref name=":08" /> Its economy is based on tourism, and palm oil and rubber plantations.Template:Citation needed In Krabi Province, for example, palm plantations occupy 980,000 rai (1,568 km2), or 52% of the province's farmland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Other sources of income include coconut plantations, tin mining.<ref name=":08" />

Rolling and mountainous terrain and the absence of large rivers are conspicuous features of the south.<ref name=":08" /> North-south mountain barriers and impenetrable tropical forest caused the early isolation and separate political development of this region.<ref name=":08" /> The Songkhla Lake is the largest natural lake in Thailand.

International access through the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand made the south a crossroads for both Theravada Buddhism, centered at Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Islam, especially in the former Pattani Kingdom on the border with Malaysia.<ref name=":08" />

Southern Thailand

Climate

Thailand map of Köppen climate classification zones
Seasonal flooding in Thailand and Cambodia.
Fires burning across the hills and valleys of Myanmar Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam (labeled with red dots).

Thailand's climate is influenced by seasonal monsoon winds (the southwest and northeast monsoons).<ref name="tmd">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Rp

Most of Thailand has a "tropical wet and dry or savanna climate" type (Köppen's Tropical savanna climate).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The majority of the south as well as the extreme east have a tropical monsoon climate. Parts of the south also have a tropical rainforest climate.

Seasons

Thailand has three seasons: summer, rainy, and winter.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp

Season name<ref name=":2" /> Thai name Month Description
Summer ฤดูร้อน Mid-February until mid-May The summer season (aka pre–monsoon) runs from mid-February until mid-May and brings warmer weather.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp
Rainy ฤดูฝน mid-May to mid-October The rainy season (aka southwest monsoon) is mid-May to mid-October and prevails over most of the country.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp Moist air moves from the Indian Ocean to Thailand, causing abundant rain over most of the country.<ref name="tmd" /> August and September are the wettest period of the year.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp This can occasionally lead to floods.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp In addition to rainfall caused by the southwest monsoon, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and tropical cyclones also contribute to producing heavy rainfall during the rainy season.<ref name="tmd" /> Dry spells commonly occur for one to two weeks from June to early-July.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp This is due to the northward movement of the ITCZ to southern China.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp
Winter ฤดูหนาว mid-October to Mid-February The winter season (aka northeast monsoon) is active from mid-October till mid-February.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="tmd" /> It brings cold and dry air from China over most of Thailand.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp In southern Thailand, the northeast monsoon brings mild weather and abundant rainfall on the eastern coast of that region.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp However most of Thailand experiences dry weather and mild temperatures during this season.<ref name="tmd" />Template:RpTemplate:Rp An exception is the southern part of Thailand which receives abundant rainfall, particularly during October to November.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp

Due to their inland location and latitude, the north, northeast, central, and eastern parts of Thailand experience a long period of warm weather.<ref name=tmd/>Template:Rp During the hottest time of the year (March to May), temperatures usually reach up to Template:Convert or more, with the exception of coastal areas where sea breezes moderate afternoon temperatures.<ref name=tmd/>Template:Rp In contrast, outbreaks of cold air from China can bring colder temperatures; in some areas (particularly the north and northeast) close to or below Template:Convert.<ref name=tmd/>Template:Rp Southern Thailand has mild weather year-round, with less diurnal and seasonal variations in temperatures, due to maritime influences.<ref name=tmd/>Template:Rp

Most of the country receives a mean annual rainfall of Template:Convert.<ref name=tmd/> However, certain areas on the windward sides of mountains such as Ranong Province on the west coast of southern Thailand and eastern parts of Trat Province receive more than Template:Convert of rainfall per year.<ref name=tmd/> The driest areas are the leeward sides of the central valleys and the northernmost portion of south Thailand, where mean annual rainfall is less than Template:Convert.<ref name=tmd/>

Most of Thailand (north, northeast, central, and east) has dry weather during the northeast monsoon and abundant rainfall during the southwest monsoon.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp In the southern parts of Thailand, abundant rainfall occurs in both the northeast and southwest monsoon seasons, with a peak in September for the western coast and a peak in November–January on the eastern coast.<ref name="tmd" />Template:Rp

Northern vs southern climate

The tropical savanna climate in Northern Thailand vs the tropical monsoon climate in Southern Thailand has notable differences. The average temperature in Phuket (Southern Thailand) is warmer than Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand) year-round. However, Phuket has more rainy days and rainfall per month than Chiang Mai.

Weather in Thailand
Month J F M A M J J A S O N D
Chiang Mai Max Temp Av. 29 32 34 36 34 32 31 31 31 31 30 28
Min Temp Av. 13 14 17 22 23 23 23 23 23 21 19 15
hours/day 9 10 9 9 8 6 5 4 6 7 8 9
mm/month 7 11 15 50 140 155 190 220 290 125 40 10
days/months 1 1 2 5 12 16 18 21 18 10 4 1
Phuket Max Temp Av. 31 32 33 33 31 31 31 31 30 31 31 31
Min Temp Av. 23 23 24 25 25 25 25 24 24 24 24 24
hours/day 9 9 9 8 6 6 6 6 5 6 7 8
mm/month 35 40 75 125 295 265 215 246 325 315 195 80
days/months 4 3 6 15 19 19 17 17 19 19 14 8
Reference: "Saisons et climats 2003" Hachette Template:ISBN

Bangkok

The capital Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate (Aw) as per the Köppen climate classification. The Asian monsoon system influences the city's three seasons: summer (hot), rainy, and winter (cool). The winter is rarely below Template:Convert: circa Template:Convert in December to Template:Convert in April. The annual average temperature is Template:Convert.

The summer begins in mid-February and it's usually dry with occasional storms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The rainy season is caused by the southwest monsoon around mid-May. September is the wettest month with around Template:Convert rainfall. The cool northeast monsoon causes the winter season from mid-October till mid-February.

Bangkok's urban heat island causes a temperature increase of Template:Convert during daytime and Template:Convert at night.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Bangkok metropolis' highest temperature was Template:Convert on 7 May 2023.<ref name="CNN">Template:Cite news</ref> and the lowest Template:Convert in January 1955.<ref name="extreme minimum">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Weather box

Natural resources

Land resources

Land use

Karen tribe in northern Thailand: controlled burn in the foreground and agricultural terraces.
  • Arable land: 30.7%
    • Permanent crops: 8.8%
    • Other: 60.5% (2011)

Land ownership

Pattamawadee Pochanukul, a lecturer from the Faculty of Economics at Thammasat University, estimates that about 59% of all arable land in Thailand belongs to the state. Template:As of the Treasury Department owned 176,467 plots of land, consisting of about 9.9 million rai (15,769.6 km2).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Ministry of Defence owns about 2.6 million rai (4,230 km2) or about 21.2% of total public land. Information from the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) shows that members of the house of representatives in 2013 owned a total of 35,786 rai of land (about 57.3 km2).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Irrigated land

  • Total: 64,150 km² (2007)

Marine resources

Exclusive economic zone of Thailand and resources 2020

Thailand has the world's 64th largest exclusive economic zone (EEZ), with an area of Template:Convert.<ref name="searoundus">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref> It claims an EEZ of Template:Convert from its shores, which has long coastlines with the Andaman Sea and Strait of Malacca to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east, although all of its EEZ is limited by maritime boundaries with neighboring countries. Circa 3/4th of the coastline around the Gulf of Thailand is part of Thailand.

Inland fishery

Over 150 fish species have been identified in catches from inland waters. 20 of these are economically important.<ref name=":6" /> The most common fish is the carp (represented by Puntius gonionotus, Puntioplites proctosyzron, Cirrhinus jullieni, Osteocheilus hasselti, Labiobarbus lineatus, Morulius chrysophekadion etc).<ref name=":6" /> The favorite fish of Thai people are 2 species of Snakehead (fish) called Channa striata and Channa micropeltes.<ref name=":6" /> The main catfish species are Clarias batrachus, C. microcephalus, Pangasius sutchi, P. larnooudii, P. siamensis, Kryptopterus pogon and Ompok bimaculatus.<ref name=":6" /> Corcia siamensis is the only representative of the clupeidae family.<ref name=":6" />

Inland fishery resources of Thailand
Resource Number Area (ha)
Rivers and canals 47 120000
Natural lakes and swamps 8000 300000
Large reservoirs 21 292590
Medium and small reservoirs 1745 425500
Village ponds 4947 25676
Brackish water lakes 1 96000
Other public waters 10859 143000
Total 1285420
Source: modified from Pawaputanon, 1992<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>

Total renewable water resources

  • Total: 438.6 km3 (2011)

Energy

In 2014, 75% of Thailand's electricity production was fueled by natural gas.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Coal-fired power plants produced an additional 20% of the electricity, with the remainder coming from biomass, hydropower, and biogas.<ref name=":1" />

Thailand produces about a third of the oil it consumes. It is the second-largest oil importer in Southeast Asia. Thailand is a major producer of natural gas, with reserves of at least 3 trillion cubic meters. After Indonesia, it is the largest coal producer in Southeast Asia, but it needs to import more coal to meet domestic demand.

Biota

Fauna

The biogeographic realm is part of the Indomalayan realm, spanning the Indochina and Sunda subrealms.[70] According to ONEP (2007), there are 302 recorded mammal species, 982 bird species, 350 reptile species, 137 amphibian species, and 2,820 fish species (720 freshwater fish speciesTemplate:Sfn).Template:Sfn The conservation status of 1,196 of these species was assessed in 2005, and 116 mammal species, 180 bird species, 32 reptile species, 5 amphibian species, and 215 fish species were listed as threatened.Template:Sfn Circa 264 mammal species in Thailand are on the IUCN Red List.

The elephant is a representative animal, and white elephants are considered symbols of kingship, have been featured on the national flag, and are considered to be the incarnation of Buddha in Buddhism, which is practiced by the majority of the population.<ref name="thai-elephant" /> At the beginning of the 20th century, there were approximately 100,000 elephants in captivity, but as of 2023, the wild population had declined to approximately 2,250 and the captive population to approximately 2,400. The central government has taken measures to protect elephants, such as opening conservation facilities and dedicated hospitals.<ref name="thai-elephant" /> See also elephants in Thailand. Water buffalo and bulls were also used as working animals, but by the 1980s, due to the diversification of transportation methods, they were rarely used as working animals.<ref name="Britannica2" />

Flora

The phytochorion belongs to the Paleotropical kingdom. It is estimated that approximately 1,900 genus and 10,000 species of vascular plants inhabit the region, of which about 10% are considered endemic.Template:Sfn Santisuk et al. (2006) lists a total of 1,407 species distributed in Thailand, including 921 species of dicotyledonous plants, 417 species of monocotyledonous plants, 42 species of ferns, and 27 species of gymnosperms.Template:Sfn

Major tree species include those of the Dipterocarpaceae family and teak,<ref name="Britannica3" /> as well as species from the Diospyros genus, Artocarpus genus, Lagerstroemia genus, and in mangrove forests, species from the Rhizophoraceae and Meliaceae families.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Notable species native to Thailand

Template:Main

These are notable flora and fauna that live in their natural habitats of Thailand.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Static row numbersTemplate:Static row numbers

Actinopterygii Aves Bovidae Canidae Cetaceans Cervidae Colubridae Elephantidae Felidae<ref name=":8" />
Mekong giant catfish Green Peafowl Banteng Thai Bangkaew Dog (from Phitsanulok province) Bryde's whale

(This is the most common whale in the Gulf of Thailand. These are a protected species in Thailand since 2019.)

Muntjac Reticulated python Indian elephant (A subspecies of the Asian Elephant. It is herbivorous and lives in forests. National animal of Thailand.<ref name="Thai_Government2" />) Indochinese tiger
Siamese fighting fish (National aquatic animal.<ref name="Thai_Government2" />) White-rumped Shama Gaur Thai Ridgeback (from Chanthaburi and Trat province) Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin Fea's muntjac Burmese python Malayan tiger
Oarfish (Nicknamed Nāga by Thais for resembling the mythological serpent. Inhabits the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea. Occasionally caught or washes ashore.) Siamese fireback (National bird.<ref name="Thai_Government2" />) Wild water buffalo Dhole Orca Sambar deer King cobra Clouded leopard
Siamese algae-eater Great hornbill Mainland serow Irrawaddy dolphin Indian hog deer Monocled cobra Asian golden cat
Blacktip reef sharks White-bellied sea eagle Chinese goral Humpback dolphin Greater mouse-deer Calloselasma Siamese cat
Whale sharks Black-and-yellow broadbill Khaolumpoon (native Thai cattle breed) Finless porpoise Eld's deer (endangered, rare in Western Thailand) Banded krait Korat
Garra waensis Malayan banded pitta Omura's whale Rainbow water snake Khao Manee
Chitala lopis Helmeted hornbill False killer whale Chrysopelea ornata Suphalak
Blue-rumped parrot Humpback whale Dryophiops rubescens
Flora Lepidoptera Manidae Portunidae Primates Reptilia Rhinolophidae Ursidae Viverridae
Cassia fistula (National tree and National flower.<ref name="Thai_Government2" />) Danaus genutia Sunda pangolin Portunus pelagicus Lar gibbon Asiatic softshell turtle Thai horseshoe bat Asian black bear (subspecies: Indochinese black bear, Tibetan black bear) Binturong
Nelumbo nucifera (lotus, Dok Bua, symbol of purity and Buddhism) Junonia almana Chinese pangolin Mud crab Robinson's banded langur Siamese crocodile (The species is critically endangered and extirpated from many regions.<ref name="species list">Template:Cite web</ref>) Thailand horseshoe bat Sun bear (subspecies: Malayan sun bear) Large-spotted civet
Heliconia Junonia orithya Indochinese grey langur Siamese leaf-toed gecko Croslet horseshoe bat Asian palm civet
Crinum asiaticum Parthenos sylvia Bengal slow loris Asian water monitor Big-eared horseshoe bat Large Indian civet
Hoya (plant) Oleander Hawkmoth Crab-eating macaque Oriental garden lizard Intermediate horseshoe bat Masked palm civet
Orchid (numerous species) Ariadne ariadne Southern pig-tailed macaque Calotes mystaceus Banded Palm Civet
Rafflesia Pachliopta aristolochiae Stump-tailed macaque Eutropis multifasciata Small Indian civet
Dipterocarpaceae (evergreen or deciduous) Attacus atlas Dusky leaf monkey Dopasia
Teak (tree) Rhesus macaque Hawksbill sea turtle
Ficus religiosa (โพ or "Pho" tree) Assam macaque Tokay gecko

Environmental issues

Template:See also

Wind-blown smoke and ash from a forest fire along the Mae Sariang–Khun Yuam road in Mae Hong Son province, 2010.

Environmental concerns

Agriculture impact

The unpredictability of precipitation, temperature changes and many other harmful events will intensify in the future.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> This means that Thailand will have to face droughts in the middle of the rainy season, which will result in damage to young plants and flooding of rice fields.<ref name=":0" /> It is therefore imperative for Thailand to adapt as quickly as possible to these changes to protect its population on the one hand and, if it wishes, to maintain a monopoly on the export of rice and not suffer significant losses.<ref name=":0" /> Which would ultimately have a huge impact on the country's economy.<ref name=":0" /> Particularly with the fluctuation in the price of rice, due to uncertainties, which prevents farmers from increasing their income.<ref name=":0" />

International environmental agreements

Territorial disputes

History

Thailand shares boundaries with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar. The territories of China and Vietnam do not border Thailand, but they are within around 100 km distance.

Many parts of Thailand's boundaries follow natural features, such as the Mekong river.<ref name=":08" /> Most borders were stabilized and demarcated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in accordance with treaties forced on Thailand and its neighbors by the British Empire and French Indochina.<ref name=":08" /> In some areas, however, exact boundaries, especially along Thailand's eastern borders with Laos and Cambodia, are still disputed.<ref name=":08" />

Cambodia

Template:See also Cambodia's disputes with Thailand after 1951 arose in part from ill-defined boundaries and changes in France's colonial fortunes.<ref name=":08" /> Recently, the most notable case has been a dispute over Preah Vihear submitted to the International Court of Justice, which ruled in favor of Cambodia in 1962.<ref name=":08" /> During the years that the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, was controlled by the Khmer Rouge regime of Pol Pot (1975 to 1979), the border disputes continued.<ref name=":08" />

Laos

Template:See also Demarcation is complete except for certain Mekong islets. The border is marked by the Mekong: at high water during the rainy season, the centre line of the current is the border, while during low water periods, all islands, mudbanks, sandbanks, and rocks that are revealed belong to Laos.

Malaysia

Template:See also In contrast to dealings with Cambodia, which attracted international attention, boundary disputes with Malaysia are usually handled more cooperatively.<ref name=":08" /> Continuing mineral exploration and fishing, however, are sources of potential conflict.<ref name=":08" /> One segment at the mouth of the Golok River remained in dispute with Malaysia as of 2023, along with a section of the continental shelf in the Gulf of Thailand.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

Myanmar

Template:See also

Sovereignty over three Andaman Sea islands remains disputed. The standing agreement, negotiated in February 1982, left undetermined the status of Ginga Island (Ko Lam), Ko Kham, and Ko Ki Nok at the mouth of the Kraburi River (Pakchan River). Subsequent negotiations in 1985, 1989, and 1990 made no progress. The two parties have designated the islands as "no man's land". Ongoing tensions in the area resulted in minor clashes in 1998, 2003, and 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Thailand topics Template:Geography of Asia Template:Asia topic

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