Geography of Thailand
 Satellite view of Thailand | |
| Continent | Asia |
|---|---|
| Region | Mainland Southeast Asia |
| Coordinates | 15°00′N 100°00′E / 15.000°N 100.000°E |
| Area | Ranked 50th |
| • Total | 513,120 km2 (198,120 sq mi) |
| • Land | 99.57% |
| • Water | 0.43% |
| Coastline | 2,815 km (1,749 mi) |
| Borders | Total: 5,656 km (3,514 mi) Myanmar: 2,401 km (1,492 mi) Laos: 1,810 km (1,125 mi) Cambodia: 798 km (496 mi) Malaysia: 647 km (402 mi) |
| Highest point | Doi Inthanon 2,565 m (8,415 ft) |
| Lowest point | Boh Yai mine[1] −106 m (−348 ft) |
| Longest river | Nan–Chao Phraya 1,112 km (691 mi) Mekong River 980 km (610 mi) Chi River 765 km (475 mi) |
| Largest lake | Songkhla Lake 1,040 km2 (400 sq mi) |
| Climate | Tropical savanna climate (most),
Tropical monsoon climate (majority of south and far east) Tropical rainforest climate (part of south) |
| Terrain | High mountains, a central plain, and an upland plateau |
| Natural hazards | Droughts, rising sea levels, soil erosion |
| Exclusive economic zone | 305,778 km2 (118,062 mi2) |
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 513,120 km2 (198,120 mi2) which is the 50th largest in the world.[2][3] The land area lies between latitudes 5° 37' North and 20° 27' North, and between the longitude 97° 22' East and 105° 37' East.[3] Around 70% of the Gulf of Thailand's coastline is Thai.[4][5]
Thailand shares a 4,863 km (3,022 mi) long international land boundary with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The nation's axial position influenced many aspects of Thai society and culture.[6] Southern Thailand is the only land route from mainland Asia to Malaysia and Singapore. It has an exclusive economic zone of 305,778 km2 (118,062 mi2).[7]
Composition and geography
[edit]
Location
[edit]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.[6] 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.[6] 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.[6]
Successive capitals, built at various points along the river, became centers of great Thai kingdoms based on rice cultivation and international commerce.[6] 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.[6]
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.[6] 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
[edit]The mountain ranges that run parallel from north to south across Mainland Southeast Asia are one of Thailand's most distinctive geographical features.[8] The country's highest peak is Doi Inthanon, with an elevation of 2,565 meters.[9] 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.[10] There are no volcanoes.[11] There are 10 mountains over 2,000 m (6,600 ft). 148 mountains exceed 1,000 m (3,300 ft).
Northern Thailand's mountainous regions like Chiang Mai and Doi Inthanon have chilly air and misty mornings.[12] However, at high altitudes it does not get colder than 5 °C to 10 °C due to the tropical climate.[12] There is no snow and frost is rare in the coldest months.[12] In 1955, snow-like frost was reported in Doi Inthanon.[12]
The 10 tallest mountains in Thailand are all located in Northern Thailand. The highest peaks are:
| Rank | Name | Thai name | Range | Province | Elevation
(m) |
Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Doi Inthanon | ดอยอินทนนท์ | Thanon Thong Chai | Chiang Mai | 2,565 m (8,415 ft) | [9] Highest point in Thailand. Formerly known as Doi Luang |
| 2 | Doi Pha Hom Pok | ดอยผ้าห่มปก | Daen Lao | Chiang Mai | 2,285 | [13] Donner: 2,296 m; highest peak of the Daen Lao Range on the Thai side of the border |
| 3 | Doi Chiang Dao | ดอยหลวง เชียงดาว | Daen Lao | Chiang Mai | 2,175 | [14]: 665 Also known as Doi Luang Chiang Dao. 2,225 m in some sources |
| 4 | Khao Kacheu La | เขากะเจอลา | Tak | 2,152 | [15] | |
| 5 | Phu Soi Dao | ภูสอยดาว | Luang Prabang Range | Uttaradit | 2,120 | [16] Highest point of the Luang Prabang Range in Thailand |
| 6 | Phu Khe | ภูเข้ | Luang Prabang | Nan | 2,079 | [17][18] |
| 7 | Phu Lo | ภูโล | Luang Prabang | Nan | 2,077 | [15] Also known as Doi Lo[19] |
| 8 | Doi Mae Tho | ดอยแม่โถ | Khun Tan | Chiang Rai | 2,031 | [20] Highest point of the Khun Tan Range; also known as Doi Lang Ka or Doi Langka Luang |
| 9 | Doi Mae Ya | ดอยแม่ยะ | Mae Hong Son | 2,005 | [21] | |
| 10 | Doi Phong Sa Yan | ดอยโป่งสะแยน | Mae Hong Son | 2,004 | [15] |
Forests
[edit]The forest cover rate was 63% in the 1940s, but declined to 53.3% in the 1960s and 26.6% in 1991.[22] It had been declining due to timber exports, urbanization, and development.[23] Since the late 1980s, the decline has been halted since protective measures such as banning logging of natural forests were implemented.[22] 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.[23][a]
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.[24] Exotic plantations such as eucalyptus and rubber are classified as agricultural land.[23] 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.[24]
Rivers
[edit]The main rivers are the Chao Phraya River and the Mekong,[25] as well as the Salween River, Mae Klong, Mun River, Chi River, Tha Chin River, and Bang Pakong River.[26] Southern Thailand has short and steep rivers due to the narrow peninsula.[27] 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:
Lakes
[edit]There are around 8000 natural lakes and swamps.[28] This includes a few large lakes and thousands of small lakes. Songkhla lake is the largest natural lake at 1,040 km2 (400 mi2).
These are the 9 largest lakes of Thailand:
| Rank | Name | Thai name | Province | Region | Type | Water salinity | Area (km2) | Max Depth (m) | Altitude (m) | Volume (km3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Songkhla Lake | ทะเลสาบสงขลา | Phatthalung province | Southern Thailand | Natural lake, lagoon lake | 1040 | 5-6 | 0 | 1.6 | |
| 2 | Bueng Boraphet | บึงบอระเพ็ด | Nakhon Sawan province | Central Thailand | freshwater swamp and lake | 224 | 4.4 | 25 | ||
| 3 | Cheow Lan Lake | เชี่ยวหลาน | Surat Thani province | Southern Thailand | artificial lake | 185 | 90 | 200 | ||
| 4 | Nong Han Lake | หนองหาน | Sakon Nakhon province | Northeastern Thailand | freshwater lake | 125.2 | 10 | 158 | ||
| 5 | Bueng Khong Long Lake | ทะเลสาบบึงโขงหลง | Bueng Kan | Northeastern Thailand | reservoir lake | 22 | 1 | 181 | ||
| 6 | Phayao Lake | กว๊านพะเยา | Phayao province | Northern Thailand | freshwater lake | 19.8 | 4 | 393 | ||
| 7 | Bueng Si Fai | บึงสีไฟ | Phichit Province | Central Thailand | freshwater lake | 8.6 | 2 | 480 | ||
| 8 | Chiang Saen Lake | ทะเลสาบเชียงแสน | Chiang Rai Province | Northern Thailand | freshwater lake | 4.3 | 4 | 332.7 | ||
| 9 | Tung Kula Lake | ทะเลสาบทุ่งกุลา | Surin province | Northeastern Thailand | artificial lake, reservoir | 1.2 | 4 | 129 |
Waterfalls
[edit]There are over 50 waterfalls in Thailand.[29] These are the top 10 tallest.
Islands
[edit]There are approximately 1,430 islands.[31] 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 543 km2 (210 mi2) in the Andaman Sea.[32]
These are the 10 largest islands of Thailand:[33]
| Rank | Island name[33] | 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 |
Topography
[edit]
Relief
[edit]The most conspicuous features of Thailand's terrain are high mountains, a central plain, and an upland plateau.[6] Mountains cover much of northern Thailand and extend along the Myanmar border down through the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula.[6] 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.
From the north, the low-lying areas are bounded by the southern part of the Luang Prabang Range and the highlands of the Phi Pan Nam Range. From the west — ridges Khun Tan Range, Thanon Thong Chai Range and Bilauktaung, have a meridional direction and continuing to the Malay Peninsula. In the northwestern region is the country's highest point of 2,565 m (8,415 ft) at mount Doi Inthanon. The Khorat Plateau is in the Northeastern region (aka Isan). This plateau is separated from the Chao Phraya Basin by the mountain ranges of Phetchabun, Sankamphaeng and Dong Phaya Yen. The plateau gradually rises from the inland border from 150 to 500 meters or more, forming the low mountain ranges Dângrêk, Dong Phaya Yen and Phu Phan. In the southeastern regions are spurs of the Cardamom mountain chain which continues in southwestern Cambodia.
South of the Kra Isthmus, on the Malay Peninsula are plains with small mountains and ridges. The highest point is mount Khao Luang at 1,835 m (6,020 ft). The Thai coastline at the Andaman Sea is very indented with rocks, islands and reefs.
Thailand can be divided into 6 geomorphological regions:
| Geomorphological Region | Province | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Highlands | It has submeridional oriented high mountain ranges, composed of limestones. Here is the highest point of the country, Doi Inthanon (2565 m). In the east of this area is a large highland Fipannam with average altitudes of 1100—1200 m. To the south, the mountains descend into plains. | |
| Thanon Thong Chai Range | It stretches along the western border with Myanmar. | |
| Central Plain | It occupies a large part of the country, stretches from north to south for 400 km, and from west to east for 200 km. It is composed of alluvial deposits of the rivers Chao Phraya, Bang Pakong and others. | |
| Khorat Plateau | In the northeast, it has an undulating surface with average heights of 185 m, framed by low mountains Dong Phaya Yen in the west, Sankampheng and Dângrêk in the south. The plateau's longitude is 400 km. It is drained by the Mun river in the basin. The Mun is a tributary of the Mekong which borders Thailand and Laos. | |
| Southeastern region | Separated from the rest of the country by the Sankamphaeng Range in the north and by the Bang Pakong River in the west. There is much atmospheric |