Thailand is a southeast Asian country. It covers the central part of the Indochina peninsula and a section of the Malacca peninsula isthmus. It borders Myanmar (ex-Burma) in the west and northwest, Laos in the north and northeast, Cambodia in the southeast, and Malaysia in the south. In the isthmus of the Malacca peninsula, the territory is bathed in the west by the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) and, in the east, by the Gulf of Thailand, which forms part of the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean). The country has an area of 514 000 km2.
The main cities are Bangkok, with 6 709 200 residents (2004), Samut Prakan (402 000 inhab.), Nonthaburi (309 200 inhab.), Udon Thani (234 100 inhab.) And Nakhon Ratchasima (217 000 inhab.).
To the north there is a series of mountains where the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan River valleys are inserted. This region is covered with tropical forest. Mount Inthanon is the highest point in Thailand, with an altitude of 2585 m and is located in the Northwest. In the central region there is the plain formed by the Chao Phraya river.
Bangkok is facing the problem of floods that have worsened from year to year. The city is sinking because the groundwater is running out due to intensive use.
Climate
Thailand has a tropical monsoon climate characterized by two seasons, one cool and dry when the land monsoon blows and the other hot and rainy subject to the sea monsoon.
Economy
The climate favors the development of the forest, which, however, has changed a lot in the areas where it is felled for the practice of itinerant agriculture and for the exploitation of wood, teak.
On the densely populated central plains of Thailand, there are vast expanses of rice and irrigation channels. This area is the country’s agricultural, commercial and industrial center. In the Northwest, there is the Khorat plateau whose soil is poor and dry due to the scarcity of rain. The South is also mountainous and it is here that the rubber plantation is concentrated. In the Golden Triangle, an isolated region defined by the borders of Thailand with Burma (Myanmar) and Laos, thousands of farmers live that are dedicated to the cultivation of opium poppy, a fact that makes this country continue to be one of the main heroin sources. The forests, from which bamboo and palm are extracted, cover 25% of the country’s total area. The teak is dragged by elephants to the rivers and transported by river to the sawmills. The most important mineral for the Thai economy is tin. The country also has natural gas reserves. Diamonds and jewelery are also of great economic importance, making up 4% of exports. Bangkok is the fifth largest diamond square in the world.
Thailand experienced a great industrial development that took place mainly around Bangkok. Thailand’s main trading partners are Japan, the United States of America, Singapore and Germany.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide emissions, per capita (metric tons, 1999), is 3.3.
Countryaah: provides country profile of Thailand, including its state flag, official language, population rankings, land area, history overview, summary of economy and culture as well as map of Thailand.
Abbreviationfinder: Comprehensive list of all abbreviations associated with Thailand. Sorted by popularity. Also offers the 2-letter and 3-letter acronyms for what is the abbreviation for Thailand.
Bank of Ayudhya Public Company Limited
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Website: http://www.bay.co.th/
Siam Commercial Bank
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Website: http://www.scb.co.th/
Thailand – Bank of Thailand
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