Geography and Environment of Thailand

The Kingdom of Thailand is located at a strategic crossroads in Southeast Asia. With an area of over 200,000 square miles, Thailand is the second largest nation in Southeast Asia. Topographically, Thailand presents a varied landscape of forested mountains, dry plateaus, fertile river plains, and sandy beaches. Mountain ranges extend along the border with Myanmar and down to Malaysia. Another range splits the country in half from north to south. The Chao Phraya River originates in the north and flows southward. It irrigates the fertile ricelands of the Central Plains through a network of "klongs" or canals. This long river serves as the main water transportation route through the central part of the country. It empties into the Gulf of Thailand some 35 miles south of Bangkok.

Detailed geography