The mountains of the North
Northern Thailand has many high mountains cut by river valleys. It is from here that many rivers originate, including the Mekong, Chao Phraya and Salawin. The Doi Inthanon with its 2,565 meters, located in the national park of the same name in Chiang Mai province, is the highest point of the country. The Doi Suthep, with the famous Wat Phra That at the top of its 1,050 meters, dominates the city of Chiang Mai, the largest agglomeration. With its tropical savannah climate, this region is conducive to different types of agriculture, including rice cultivation. The large terraced rice fields, especially in Ban Pa Pong Piang, form beautiful landscapes that attract many travellers. The main cities are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Sawan, Petchabun, Phitsanulok and Sukhothai.
The central plains
The heart of the country is irrigated by many rivers, including the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, Tha Jean, Pa Sak, or Bang Pa Kong. The great plains that facilitate land communications, as well as the irrigation systems set up during the period of the Sukhothai kingdom, have allowed the agricultural and economic development of this region, often nicknamed the "rice bowl of Asia". This fertile region is densely populated, more so than the rest of the country. The Chao Praya Delta is the economic lung of the country; once the kingdom of Siam was centred on its capital Ayutthaya, today the capital of contemporary Thailand is in Bangkok.
The main cities are Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Lopburi.The North-East plateaus
Isaan, Thailand's largest province, covers the whole of this geographical region, which is bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, and by Cambodia to the south. The Khorat Plateau constitutes the major part of this flat terrain, with some rocky hills, the Phu Phan Mountains. The soils are not very fertile and are covered with tall grass. The rivers Chi and Moon meander through the plains. The long dry season does not favour agriculture, which is the main economic activity, especially since the monsoon is short and often causes floods. Only the cultivation of sticky rice, the staple food of the region, is favoured by this climate and the flooding of the rivers. The main towns are Nakhon Ratchasima, Ubon Ratchathani and Udon Thani.
The western mountains
This narrow strip stretches along the Tenasserim Range along the border with Myanmar, from the Shan Hills in the north to Chumphon Province in the south. The relief consists of high mountains and deep river valleys, and a coastline stretching from the outskirts of Bangkok to the port of Chumphon. The largest city in this region is the seaside resort of Hua Hin. Most of the forests in the region are preserved from human impact and are protected by national parks, such as Khao Sam Roi Yot (Prachuap Khiri Khan), which is home to the largest freshwater marshes in the country. There are also some of the most important dams in the country. The main industrial activity is mining. The main cities are Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Eastern Mountains and Coastal Plains
This border region with Cambodia consists of high mountains and coastal plains to the north, river plains amidst jagged sierra and rolling plains to the east, and coastline to the south. The Bang Pakong River runs through the region from north to south to the Gulf of Thailand. Between the Ban Tad and Chanthaburi Mountains lies a narrow plain suitable for fruit cultivation. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai forest complex stretches 230 km between Ta Phraya National Park on the Cambodian border to the east and Khao Yai National Park to the west. The coastline is covered with beautiful beaches and offshore are the islands of Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Ko Samet. These include the marine protected area of Mu Ko Chang National Park. Tourism plays a major role in the region's economy, thanks in particular to the islands, but also to the coastal resorts, especially in Pattaya. The main cities are Pattaya, Chantaburi, Chonburi, Rayong.
Mountains, plateaus, coastal plains and southern islands
Southern Thailand lies on a narrow peninsula. Two coastal plains to the east and west are divided by high mountain ranges running through the centre of the peninsula. The hilly and mountainous terrain and the absence of large rivers are characteristic of this region. It is also an important tourist centre, with the presence of numerous islands and seaside resorts. The landscapes formed by karstic peaks emerging from the Andaman Sea amaze travellers. Among the most famous islands, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in the west in the Gulf of Thailand, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Lipe in the east in the Andaman Sea. The economy of the peninsula is mainly based on tourism, but also on palm oil and rubber plantations. The main cities are Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Narathiwat, Krabi.
Hydrography
Water is present everywhere in Thailand, so the river system is highly developed and has played an essential role in the development of agriculture and transport. Many of the rivers, along which villages have settled, flow down from the mountains in the north. The Ping and Nan Rivers in Nakhon Sawan grow and merge to form the Chao Phraya, which then flows 372 kilometres from north to south from the central plains through Bangkok to the Gulf of Thailand. The Mekong, 4,880 kilometres long, flows down from the Tibetan plateau, through the Chinese province of Yunnan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and then Vietnam. These two rivers are Thailand's main river systems, providing irrigation, drinking water, transportation, electricity and livelihoods to a large number of citizens, which is why almost all of Thailand's major cities are located along the rivers.
