The local name for Thailand means “land of the free.” True to its name, Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia that was never colonized by European powers. Thailand is a modern country that continues to respect its ancient traditions. The capital is Bangkok. GeographyThailand is located in the center of mainland Southeast Asia. The country consists of two broad geographic areas: a larger section in the north and a smaller section in the south. The Thai often describe their land as shaped like an elephant's head. The trunk is the south, the elephant's ear is the northeast, and the top of the head is the north. - A limestone formation lies along a river on the Malay Peninsula of southern Thailand.
The northern, main body of the country is surrounded by Myanmar to the west, Laos to the north and east, and Cambodia to the southeast. The Gulf of Thailand is to the south. Southern Thailand lies on a long, thin strip of land called the Malay Peninsula. This part of the country is bordered to the south by Malaysia, to the west by the Andaman Sea, and to the east by the Gulf of Thailand. The country has a total area of about 198,115 square miles (513,115 square kilometers). Thailand can be divided into four basic geographic regions—the mountainous north, the south, the central plains, and the northeast. The mountains of northern Thailand reach heights of more than 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). Rivers cut deep, narrow valleys through the mountains. These rivers flow generally south on their way to join Chao Phraya, the country's major river. The mountains run down the western border and extend southward. The Malay Peninsula in the south is rolling to mountainous, with little flat land. The central plains is the most heavily populated region of Thailand and contains the largest city, Bangkok. The land is well suited for farming. The northeast consists of a broad, level area called the Khorat Plateau. The great Mekong River separates the plateau from Laos. Thailand's climate is influenced by seasonal winds known as monsoons. It has three seasons: a hot season, a rainy season, and a cool season. Nevertheless, temperatures are fairly steady throughout the year, averaging between 77° and 84° F (25° and 29° C). Plants and animals - Mangrove trees at low tide on the coast of Thailand.
More than 250 varieties of bamboo are found in Thailand, along with coconut palms, mangroves, rattan, many ferns, bananas, and mango and papaya trees. The south is heavily forested. Hardwood trees such as teak grow in the rain forests of the north. Flowering plants, including lotuses and water lilies, are common throughout the country. Thailand also boasts a great diversity of animal life. However, few wild elephants, rhinoceroses, and tapirs remain. These animals have been endangered by hunting and the widespread cutting of trees. Elephants raised by people have long been used for transportation and for work. Water buffalo are used to pull plows and carts. Many species of monkeys and birds are found in the forests. Lizards, frogs, toads, and crocodiles are common. Among the country's snakes is the poisonous king cobra. People and cultureEthnic Thai make up about 80 percent of the population. The Thai are generally divided into two subgroups, the Lao and the Siamese. Ethnic Chinese make up more than 10 percent of the population. The country also has large groups of Malays and Khmer and smaller groups of Karen, Hmong, and Yao. The Thai people generally speak Thai, which is the official language. English also is widely spoken. Almost all the people follow the Theravada branch of Buddhism, which is the official religion. The Malays generally practice Islam. Thailand also has small numbers of Christians and Hindus. Buddhism exerts a great influence on Thai culture. Every village has a wat, or temple complex. The temples are decorated with murals, carved wood, gold leaf, mother-of-pearl, and graceful statues of the Buddha. Traditional Thai painting is mostly religious. Theater and music are an important part of Thai life. Nang, a type of shadow puppet theater, has been performed for some five centuries. The country's traditional crafts include weaving and dying silk and enameling and etching silver. The pottery often features a famous jade-green color known as Thai celadon. EconomyFarming accounts for only about 10 percent of the national income but employs about 40 percent of the workforce. The main crops include rice, sugarcane, cassava, and corn (maize). Rubber is a major export. Pigs and chickens are widely kept as livestock, and fishing remains important. Industry in Thailand developed rapidly after 1970. Manufacturing accounts for about a third of the national income. Some of the major products are clothing, computers and electrical machinery, rubber goods, cement, refined sugar, and jewelry. Thailand is one of the world's largest producers of tungsten and tin. The country's other natural resources include coal, natural gas, limestone, and such gems as rubies and sapphires. Tourism is one of the country's largest industries, bringing in billions of dollars a year. HistoryEarly historyThe fertile plains of Thailand have been inhabited for thousands of years. The early people of the region grew rice and were among the first anywhere to cast bronze and iron tools. Between the 6th and 9th centuries AD the Mon established several small Buddhist kingdoms. Their territory included present-day southern Myanmar and central Thailand. By the 12th century parts of eastern Thailand were dominated by the great Angkor Empire of what is now Cambodia. Thai-speaking peoples moved into the area from China in about the 10th century. In the 13th century they founded the kingdom of Sukhotai (Dawn of Happiness) in northern Thailand. The kingdom expanded and eventually defeated the great Angkor Empire. In the 14th century the kingdom of Ayutthaya rose to power. During this period Thai culture developed and Theravada Buddhism became the official religion. The kingdom came to be known as Siam. The Ayutthaya kings ruled for more than 400 years. Chakri DynastyIn 1782 Rama I gained control over the territory. Rama was the first of a new line of kings, the Chakri Dynasty, who continue to lead the country. During the 19th century Siam was the only state in Southeast Asia that did not fall to the European colonial powers. The kings of the period adopted Western technology and ideas. However, they maintained the country's cultural identity. In 1932 a military revolt ended the Chakri Dynasty's absolute authority over the country. In 1939 the country was officially named Thailand. During the Vietnam War Thailand was an active ally of the United States. It served as a major military base for United States troops and aircraft. After the war ended, people from neighboring countries came to Thailand in large numbers. Some were fleeing the war, but most were escaping famine. In 1973 a student-led uprising led to more democratic government. In the last decades of the 20th century the government dedicated itself to rebuilding Thailand as an advanced industrial nation. Many international companies built factories in Thailand during this period. An economic crisis in 1997–98 created unrest and instability. By the end of the 20th century, however, the Thai economy had begun to recover. Population (2001 estimate), 61,251,000. |