Thailand divides nearly into 4 distinct regions, each of which developed over the centuries its own separate history and economic structure : THE NORTH EAST, THE NORTH , CENTRAL THAILAND, THE SOUTH.  The huge metropolitan area of Bangkok is also often regarded as a separate region because of its size. subdivided into 76 provinces, Thailand occupies a land mass about the size of France , enclosed by mountains into the north and two seas in the south . It takes at least 2 days to travel by train or buss the length of Thailand.

 

Thailand, in Southeast Asia, is dominated by the Chao Phraya River basin, which contains Bangkok—the capital and largest city, with some 16 million people. Bangkok presents a distinctive Buddhist landscape, with gold-layered spires, graceful pagodas, and giant Buddha statues. To the east rises the Khorat Plateau, a sandstone plateau with poor soils supporting grasses and woodlands. The long southern region, connecting with Malaysia, is hilly and forested. The highest mountains are in northern Thailand, and the rich soils in the remote mountain valleys produce opium poppies.

The population is largely homogeneous, with most being ethnic Thai and professing Buddhism. Some three million Muslims live in the south near the border with Malaysia.

Two 19th-century kings of Siam, Mongkut and his son Chulalongkorn, introduced Western education and technology but preserved the character of a devout Buddhist.

 

THAILAND MAP

 

Thailand Flag and Fast Facts