Capital city: Bangkok Region: Asia Area: 514 000 km² Population: 62 354 402 Main cities: Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Khon Kaen, Chon Buri, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Ban Hat Yai, Phitsanulok, Pattaya, Sukhothai Currency: baht Dial code: 66 Internet code: TH Information: Thailand is an Asian country whose area covers 514 000 km², with around 62 billions people (2002). It is bordered by Burma to the west, Malaysia to the south, Cambodia to the east and Laos to the northeast. Its capital is Bangkok or Krungtep in Thai. The official language is Thai and the currency is the baht. Thailand is part of the Indochinese peninsula, except its southern edge, which is part of the Malaysian peninsula. The country stretches over 805 km from east to west and over 1770 km from north to south. To the centre there is a vast plain, the plain of the Menam Chao Phraya, which is the largest Thai river. That central plain is the most densely populated region of Thailand, and also the richest from an agricultural point of view. Bangkok is situated close to the fertile delta of the Menam Chao Phraya. Mountains surround that basin; the mountains bordering Burma are the highest and reach 2595 m at the Doi Inthanon. The highest point of the peninsula, bordered by narrow coastal plains, is Khao Luang with 1786 m. |