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The
land and its people
Approximately
the size of France. covering an area of some 513.115 squre
kilometers. Thailand displays comsiderable geographical and
climatic variety in its four major regions. The far north. where
rhe narion's borders mee t those of Burma and Laos, is
mountainous with valleys watered by a number of rivers and
streans; during the winter months temperatures are cool enough
to permit the cultivation of such temperate-zone crops as coffee,
lychees, and strawberries. The rolli ng northeastern plateau, by
contrast, suffers from frequent droughts, although these are
being alleviated by an increasing number of reservoirs and other
man-made water facilities. The central plains region, through
which flows the Cho Phraya River, is on e of the most ferrtile
ricegrowing areas in the world and has been the scene of
Thailand's greatest historical development. The narrow southern
peninsula, stretching to Malaysia, has coastlines with
spectacular beaches along both the Gulf of Thailand and the
Indian Ocean and lofty jungled mountains in many areas.
Traditional
and modern edifices coexist harmoniously in today's Bangkok.
The
country is blessed with an equal varity of natural resources.
Though logging is now resteucted in the teak forests of the
north, the region contains rich deposits of flourite, wolfram,
and tungsten and its riverine valleys support a large number of
orchards and farms. Potash is plentifol in the northeast, and
mulberry planrarions have traditionally sustained the
cultivation of silkworms. Both flourite and gems are mined in
the west, while some of the finest sapphires in the world come
from the mountains of the finest sapphires in the world come
form the mountains of irrigation canals which supply water not
only to countless rice fields but also to vegetable farms and
fruit orchards. Natural gas deposits in the Gulf of Thailand a
re supplying energy for many development projects, particularly
along the Eastern Seaboard. In addition to a plentiful supply of
seafood, the south has extensive deposits of tin and huge
plantations of coconuts, cashews, and other fruits.
Though
the great majority of Thailand's 50 million people are
ethnically Thai and Buddhist, the country has a substantial
number of minority groups who have historically lived together
in harmony. Of these the Chinese are perhaps the most numerous,
p articularly in urban areas, though they have become so
thoroughly assimilated it would be difficult to isolate them as
a distinct group. Similarly, while there are Laos and Khmer
groups in the northeast and west, nearly all regard themselves
as Thai, cul turally as well as by nationality. More clearly
defined are the Muslims, who are mainly concrntrated in the
southern 0provinces, and assorted hill tribes who live in the
far north; there are also sizeable communities of Hindus and
Sikhs in large cities l ike Bangkok. |
