powers. Thailand’s capital is
Bangkok.
Geography
Thailand is shaped like an elephant’s
head. Narrow southern Thailand is the
trunk, and the north is the head and the
ear. Thailand shares borders with Myanmar,
Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia.
The Andaman Sea, a part of the Indian
Ocean, lies to the west. The Gulf of
Thailand lies to the east.
Mountains and deep river valleys cover
northern Thailand. The highest peak,
Mount Inthanon, is 8,481 feet (2,585
meters) high. The mountains run down
the western border into the south. The
Chao Phraya is the country’s major
river. It flows through plains in central
Thailand. The northeast is a broad, flat
area called the Khorat Plateau.
Winds known as monsoons affect Thailand’s
climate. The winds bring a hot
season, a rainy season, and a cool season.
Plants and Animals
Bamboo, coconut palms, mangroves,
ferns, and mango and papaya trees grow
in Thailand. Teak and other hardwood
trees grow in the rain forests of the
north.
Small numbers of wild elephants, rhinoceroses,
and tapirs live in Thailand.
Many monkeys and birds live in the
forests. Lizards, frogs, snakes, and crocodiles
are common.
People
Thai people make up most of the population.
Chinese people form a smaller
group. The country also has small
An unusual rock formation stands in a bay
in southern Thailand.
54 Thailand BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
groups of Malays, Khmer, and others.
Thai is the main language, but English
is also widely spoken.
Almost all the people of Thailand follow
Buddhism. Some people in the south,
especially Malays, practice Islam. Most
people live in rural areas.
Economy
Tourism is one of Thailand’s largest
industries. Manufacturing is another
important part of the economy. Some of
the major products are clothing, computers
and other electronics, cement,
sugar, and jewelry. Thailand is one of the
world’s largest producers of the metals
tungsten and tin. The country’s mines
also provide coal, natural gas, and gems.
Many Thai people work in farming. The
main crops include rice, sugarcane, cassava,
and corn. Thailand also produces
natural rubber, pineapples, and bananas.
Pigs, chickens, and fish are other sources
of food.
History
Thousands of years ago people in what
is now Thailand grew rice and made
metal tools. Between the AD 500s and
800s the Mon people set up small Buddhist
kingdoms. By the 1100s the
Khmer people of what is now Cambodia
ruled parts of eastern Thailand.
Thai peoples moved into the area from
China in about the 900s. In the 1200s
they founded two kingdoms in what is
now northern Thailand. The Sukhothai
kingdom was founded after a local Thai
ruler led a revolt against the Khmer. The
Lan Na kingdom was founded after
another Thai ruler conquered a Mon
kingdom.
In the 1300s the kingdom of Ayutthaya
took the place of Sukhothai. The kingdom
came to be known as Siam. Siam
conquered Lan Na in the 1700s.
In 1782 a royal family called the Chakri
dynasty came to power in Siam. During
the 1800s Siam stayed independent
while Europeans took over neighboring
countries. In 1932 a military revolt
ended the Chakri dynasty’s absolute
control over the country. Siam then
became a constitutional monarchy. This
means that the country still has a king
from the Chakri dynasty, but his powers
are limited. In 1939 the country became
known as Thailand.
The military took control of Thailand in
1947. In 1973 students held protests
that led to a more democratic government.
But military leaders took power
several times in the following years.
..More to explore
Bangkok • Buddhism
Tourists ride tame elephants in Thailand.
Facts About
THAILAND
Population
(2008 estimate)
64,316,000
Area
198,117 sq mi
(513,120 sq km)
Capital
Bangkok
Form of
government
Constitutional
monarchy
Major cities
Bangkok, Samut
Prakan, Nonthaburi,
Udon
Thani, Nakhon
Ratchasima
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Thailand 55
Thames River
The Thames River has been the main
waterway of England since the time of
the ancient Romans. Compared to the
great rivers of the world, the Thames is
neither long nor mighty. Its importance
comes from the great civilization that
arose on its banks.
The Thames begins in the Cotswold
Hills of central England. From there it
winds about 210 miles (338 kilometers)
from west to east. After passing the city
of Oxford, it flows through the countryside
and then into London. The many
landmarks along the Thames in London
include the Houses of Parliament, Saint
Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London,
and the Millennium Dome. The
Thames empties into the North Sea.
People have lived in the Thames Valley
for thousands of years. Before railways
and good roads were built, the Thames
was the area’s main trade route. Over
time many industries were set up along
the banks. Today millions of people
depend on the river for water and for
sewage removal.
#More to explore
England • River
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a yearly holiday marked
by feasts and family gatherings. The day
is celebrated in the United States,
Canada, and other countries. It takes
place on the fourth Thursday in November
in the United States. In Canada it
occurs on the second Monday in October.
