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 which is the 50th largest in the world. The land area lies between latitudes 5° 37' North and 20° 27' North, and between the longitude 97° 22' East and 105° 37' East. Around 70% of the Gulf of Thailand's coastline is Thai.
Thailand shares a long international land boundary with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The nation's axial position influenced many aspects of Thai society and culture. Southern Thailand is the only land route from mainland Asia to Malaysia and Singapore. It has an exclusive economic zone of .
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. The earliest settlers were in the bronze age such as Ban Chiang around 1500 BCE.
By the 11th century AD, a number of loosely connected rice-growing and trading states flourished in the upper Chao Phraya Basin. 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.
Successive capitals, built at various points along the river, became centers of great Thai kingdoms based on rice cultivation and international commerce. 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.
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. 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. Thailand is fully above the equator in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mountains
The mountain ranges that run parallel from north to south across Mainland Southeast Asia are one of Thailand's most distinctive geographical features. The country's highest peak is Doi Inthanon, with an elevation of 2,565 meters. Major mountain ranges include the Thanon Thong Chai Range, the Daen Lao Range on Thailand's northern edge, and the Tenasserim Hills on the border with Myanmar. The average elevation decreases southward. There are no volcanoes.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。 There are 10 mountains over . 148 mountains exceed .
Northern Thailand's mountainous regions like Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon have chilly air and misty mornings. However, at high altitudes it does not get colder than 5 °C to 10 °C due to the tropical climate. There is no snow and frost is rare in the coldest months. In 1955, snow-like frost was reported in Doi Inthanon.
The 10 tallest mountains in Thailand are all located in Northern Thailand. The highest peaks are: RankNameThai nameRangeProvinceElevation (m)Observations1Doi InthanonThanon Thong ChaiChiang MaiDoi Inthanon National Park Highest point in Thailand. Formerly known as Doi Luang2Doi Pha Hom PokDaen LaoChiang Mai2,285Doi Fahhompok National Park Donner: 2,296 m; highest peak of the Daen Lao Range on the Thai side of the border3Doi Chiang DaoDaen LaoChiang Mai2,175 Also known as Doi Luang Chiang Dao. 2,225 m in some sources4Khao Kacheu LaTak2,152GMCAR VOL.13 NO. 185 December 2008 5Phu Soi DaoLuang Prabang RangeUttaradit2,120 Highest point of the Luang Prabang Range in Thailand6Phu KheLuang PrabangNan2,0797Phu LoLuang PrabangNan2,077 Also known as Doi Lo8Doi Mae ThoKhun TanChiang Rai2,031 Highest point of the Khun Tan Range; also known as Doi Lang Ka or Doi Langka Luang9Doi Mae YaMae Hong Son2,005Thai travel10Doi Phong Sa YanMae Hong Son2,004
Forests The forest cover rate was 63% in the 1940s, but declined to 53.3% in the 1960s and 26.6% in 1991. It had been declining due to timber exports, urbanization, and development. Since the late 1980s, the decline has been halted since protective measures such as banning logging of natural forests were implemented. 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.
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. Exotic plantations such as eucalyptus and rubber are classified as agricultural land. 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.
Rivers
The main rivers are the Chao Phraya River and the Mekong, as well as the Salween River, Mae Klong, Mun River, Chi River, Tha Chin River, and Bang Pakong River.Knowledge - Basin Information タイ水資源局、2023年10月22日閲覧。 Southern Thailand has short and steep rivers due to the narrow peninsula. 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: RankRiver nameThai nameProvinceRegionLength (km)Tributary ofRefs1Mekongแม่น้ำโขงBueng Kan, Chiang Rai, Loei, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Mukdahan, Ubon RatchathaniNorth, Northeast 920 (part in Thailand) -2Chi Riverแม่น้ำชีChaiyaphum, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Ubon RatchathaniNortheast765Mun River3Nan Riverแม่น้ำน่านNakhon Sawan, Nan, Phichit, Phitsanulok, UttaraditNorth, Central740Chao Phraya River4Yom Riverแม่น้ำยมChiang Rai, Nakhon Sawan, Phayao, Phichit, Phitsanulok, PhraeNorth, Central700Nan River5Ping Riverแม่น้ำปิงChiang Mai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lamphun, Nakhon Sawan, TakNorth, Central658Chao Phraya River6Mun Riverแม่น้ำมูลBuriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, Sisaket, Ubon RatchathaniNortheast 641Mekong River7Pa Sak Riverแม่น้ำป่าสักAyutthaya, Loei, Lopburi, Phetchabun, SaraburiCentral, Northeast, Northern513Chao Phraya River8Wang Riverแม่น้ำวังChiang Rai, Lampang, TakNorth392Ping River9Khwae Yai Riverแม่น้ำแควใหญ่Kanchanaburi, TakWest, North380Mae Klong10Chao Phrayaแม่น้ำเจ้าพระยาAng Thong, Ayutthaya, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, Bangkok (special district)Central, North372 -
Lakes There are around 8000 natural lakes and swamps. This includes a few large lakes and thousands of small lakes. Songkhla lake is the largest natural lake at .
These are the 9 largest lakes of Thailand: RankNameThai nameProvinceRegionTypeWater salinityArea (km2)Max Depth (m)Altitude (m)Volume (km3)1Songkhla LakeทะเลสาบสงขลาPhatthalung provinceSouthern ThailandNatural lake, lagoon lake10405-601.62Bueng Boraphetบึงบอระเพ็ดNakhon Sawan provinceCentral Thailandfreshwater swamp and lake 2244.4253Cheow Lan Lakeเชี่ยวหลานSurat Thani provinceSouthern Thailandartificial lake18590 2004Nong Han LakeหนองหานSakon Nakhon provinceNortheastern Thailandfreshwater lake125.210 158 5Bueng Khong Long Lakeทะเลสาบบึงโขงหลง Bueng KanNortheastern Thailandreservoir lake221181 6Phayao Lakeกว๊านพะเยาPhayao provinceNorthern Thailandfreshwater lake19.843937Bueng Si FaiบึงสีไฟPhichit ProvinceCentral Thailandfreshwater lake8.624808Chiang Saen LakeทะเลสาบเชียงแสนChiang Rai ProvinceNorthern Thailandfreshwater lake4.34332.79Tung Kula Lakeทะเลสาบทุ่งกุลาSurin provinceNortheastern Thailandartificial lake, reservoir1.24129
Waterfalls There are over 50 waterfalls in Thailand. These are the top 10 tallest. WaterfallHeightLocationProvinceRegionDescriptionRefsMae Surin FallsNamtok Mae Surin National ParkMae Hong SonNorthern ThailandIt consists of one cascade of water plunging from a height of 80 meters over a steep cliff into a ravine below.Chat Warin WaterfallNear Narathiwat townNarathiwatSouthern ThailandNamtok Kaeng SongWang Thong districtPhitsanulok provinceCentral ThailandA wide, multi-tiered cascade over dark greenish-yellow rocks with clear pools.Namtok Kaeng SophaThung Salaeng Luang National Park Phitsanulok ProvinceCentral ThailandConsists of 3 tiers.Erawan WaterfallOver Erawan National ParkKanchanaburi provinceWestern ThailandThe source of Khao Phang Waterfall and Sai Yok Noi waterfall. The waterfall is 1500 meters long and has 7 tiers consisting of: ‘Lai Kuen Rang’, ‘Wang Matcha’, ‘Pha Nam Tok’, ‘Oak Phee Sua’ , ‘Bua Mai Long’ , ‘Dong Prueksa’ , and ‘Phu Pha Erawan’.Mae Koeng WaterfallsWiang ko sai National Park Lampang and Phrae provinceNorthern ThailandHuai Yang WaterfallNamtok Huai Yang National ParkPrachuap Khiri Khan provinceWestern ThailandNamtok Khao Soi DaoKhao Soi Dao Wildlife SanctuaryChanthaburi provinceEastern Thailand16-tiered cascade system. Its source is near the 1,556-meter peak of Khao Soi Dao Nua mountain.Nang Rong WaterfallKhao Yai National Park Nakhon Nayok provinceCentral ThailandA tiered waterfall. Its main cascade has a height of circa 50 meters.Phu Fa waterfallDoi Phu Kha National ParkNan provinceNorthern ThailandThe waterfall has 12 tiers made of multi level stone cliffs, which resembles giant stairs.Namtok Si DitKhao Kho districtPhetchabun provinceNorthern ThailandA large single-tiered waterfall on the Wang Thong River.Sirindhorn WaterfallWaeng districtNarathiwat provinceSouthern ThailandSirindhorn Waterfall is not a waterfall that falls from a high cliff, but it's a stream that comes down from a forest at a higher altitude.Thi Lo Su WaterfallUmphang districtTak provinceNorthern ThailandWachirathan FallsChom Thong (in Doi Inthanon National Park) Chiang MaiNorthern ThailandWang Nok Aen (aka Sakunothayan Waterfall)Sakunothayan Botanical GardenPhitsanulok ProvinceCentral ThailandMae Ya WatefallDoi Inthanon National ParkChiang Mai provinceNorthern ThailandWaterfall with 30 tiers.Mae Klang FallsDoi Inthanon National ParkChiang Mai provinceNorthern ThailandWachiratan FallsDoi Inthanon National ParkChiang Mai provinceNorthern ThailandSiriphum FallsDoi Inthanon National ParkChiang Mai provinceNorthern ThailandTat Mok waterfallTat Mok National ParkPhetchabun provinceNorthern ThailandSingle-tiered waterfall.
Islands
There are approximately 1,430 islands.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。 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 in the Andaman Sea.
These are the 10 largest islands of Thailand: RankIsland nameThai nameArea (km2)Area (sq mi)Island group1Phuketภูเก็ต543209.652Ko Samuiเกาะสมุย229 883Ko Changเกาะช้าง211814Ko Tarutaoเกาะตะรุเตา152 58.685Ko Pha-nganเกาะพะงัน125 486Ko Kutเกาะกูด105 407Ko Yao Yaiเกาะยาวใหญ่92 35.58Ko Phra Thong เกาะพระทอง88 33.979Ko Lanta Yai เกาะลันตาใหญ่81 3110Ko Yao Noiเกาะยาว3613.89
Topography
Relief The most conspicuous features of Thailand's terrain are high mountains, a central plain, and an upland plateau. Mountains cover much of northern Thailand and extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula. More than half of Thailand is situated in low-lying alluvial plains. The largest is the Chao Phraya Basin located in the central region of the country along the Chao Phraya river.