Thailand, known for centuries as Siam, is now officially known as the Kingdom of Thailand. Thailand is found in Southeast Asia surrounded by Myanmar to its north and west, Laos on its northeast, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand on its southeast and by Malaysia and Myanmar on its south and southwest, respectively.
The largest city in Thailand is Bangkok, with about 5.5 million people living there in 1992. In addition to being the largest city, Bangkok has the distinction of being the capital of Thailand as well as the chief seaport.
Dominating Thailand's terrain are mountainous areas, which can be found all through the country. Taking up a third of Thailand is the Khorat Plateau, a flat, barren plateau that borders the Mekong River valley. The main river in Thailand, Chao Phraya, goes through an alluvial plain that is sandwiched between the central and western mountains. This plain, along with a fertile delta near Bangkok, which was created by the Chao Phraya, is the most productive agricultural part of Thailand, and is the most densely populated.
Origin of the Chao Phraya River, Nakhon Sawan, Tha...
This is a map of the Chao Phraya River drainage ba...
Bangkok, Thailand: Chao Phraya Express Boats and "...Monsoon winds have an impact on Thailand's tropical climate. When the winds come from the southwest, the temperatures are usually a little higher and more humid (ranging from 78 -98 degrees F), while the northeastern winds bring the temperature down a little (ranging from 56 - 92 degrees F). Rainfall is more likely during the summer months of June through October, and the average rainfall varies from region to region. In the northern, central and western regions, about 1500 mm is expected, while the Thai section of the Malay peninsula usually gets over 2500 mm. The Khorat Plateau gets the least rainfall with about 1270 mm or less per year.