The North
The Northern highlands of Thailand were
once known as the glorious Lanna
Region. This mountainous area contains headwater sources of many important
rivers, the nationūs lifelines, which nourish all
the ethnic groups on the high
mountains and in the plains. In several provinces such as Chiang Rai, Chiang
Mai and Nan, are situated research centres
for temperate vegetation amidst
the magnificent seas of fog and misty hills. In the river basins, people grow
rice
and vegetables. The North is also famous for some tasty fruits such as lychees
in Chiang Rai, longans in
Chiang Mai, golden oranges in Nan and langsat in Uttaradit. In
addition to its agricultural produce, the North is also rich in artistic,
architectural
and handicraft heritage, which has been passed on to new generations for
hundreds of years. The cultural riches are evident everywhere: in houses,
temples, handicrafts, household items and even in the simple and peaceful
daily routine that people perform.
The Northeast
The high plateau of the
Northeastern Region covers the Sakon
Nakhon Basin to the
north of the region running parallel to the Mekong River,
the natural Thai-Lao border.
The plains along the river are fertile and abundant with vegetation similar
to that of
the South and the East, such as rubber and fruits like rambutans,
durians,and mangosteens. In the higher area of upper Loei, the terrain is mountainous, sloping down from the
west to the southeastern part to the vast Khorat Basin and its once notoriously tough
deep and dense forest of ēDong Phaya
Fai. The forest is the headwater source of several
waterways in the area,
which have served to link the Northeast with the Central Plains both
geographically and culturally. The folk wisdom is evident in the diverse
lifestyles, the affectionate relation between
men and elephants, and numerous delicate handicrafts such as basket weaving,
silk weaving and intricate handmade silver ornaments. Amidst the colourful plains by the lower mountain valleys dwell the
pioneering Thai cowboys who have cultivated many modern dairy farms
alternately with fruit orchards of oranges, and grapes, as well as flower
gardens.
The Central Plains
The
Central Plains, the nationūs main food larder,
covers almost the entire central part of
the country along the Chao Phraya River Basin. The Lower
Chao Phraya
provinces,
particularly from Ang Thong, Suphan
Buri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya,
and Samut
Songkhram, are inter-connected with small rivers
and canals. Many key rivers in the
area flowing down to the sea include the Chao Phraya, the Tha Chin, the Mae Klong
and the Phetchaburi. These rivers branch out to
create a network of waterways, to
nourish the plains and the people. Sedimentary soil left by the water helps
fertilize the
land. The area is well-known for its cultivation of rice, vegetables, fruits
and other
crops. Several women groups have recently been established for the
preservation of
agricultural products for off-season consumption. The area from Nonthaburi to Samut Songkhram has long been an old fruit orchard area known
as ēthe inner orchard of Bangkok and the outer orchard of Bang
Chang, where people grow indigenous fruits such as durians in Nonthaburi and lychees in Amphawa (Bang Chang).
To the west of this region lies the vast fertile forestation of the Tanao-Si
Ranges along
the Thai-Myanmar border. There are frequent rainfalls and the weather can be
very
cold in the cold season. Atop certain high mountains in Kanchanaburi,
temperate
fruits can thrive as well as those in the North.
To the south of the region are coastal plains of Phetchaburi
with long sandy,
beautiful beaches close to the Gulf
of Thailand. The
weather is mild all year round.
The beaches have served as seaside resorts for royalty and commoners alike.
The plains in
the valleys and along the riversides have inspired H.M. King Bhumibolūs innovative agricultural
projects, including his new theory of sustainable integrated farm-and-garden
cultivation.
The Central Plains are also highly diverse ethnically and culturally. Various
ethnic
groups, such as the Lao Song, the Burmese, the Mon and the Karen,
have lived
together in harmony with the Thais.
The Eastern Region
Though a very small region
covering only one tenth of the countryūs total area,
the Eastern Region is not the least important regarding agrotourism.
It is located in a
very strategically crucial spot with its upper part connected to the Central
and the
Northeastern Regions. Its lower part stretches along the coastlines of the Gulf of Thailand.
In the old days, many cities in this region served as key ports-of-call near
the capital
city, and had played a vital role in several political incidents. They have
long been
significant commercial stations by sea for traders from China, Vietnam,
and Japan since
the Ayutthaya
Period. Presently this region is an important industrial area. In the upper
region around Chachoengsao, Nakhon
Nayok, Prachin Buri, and Sa Kaeo, are located
the nationūs food larders, while the seaside
provinces from Chon Buri, Rayong,
Chanthaburi
to Trat are sources of seafood, medicinal plants,
spices, fruits and cash crops, as well as
beautiful beaches. Offshore lie many pretty islands
and islets such as Ko Chang and Ko
Kut.
The diverse geographical features of this region, with mountains, vast
forests, rivers, seas,
waterfalls, beaches and islands, lend themselves to diverse lifestyles and
traditions.
In addition, all these crucial features make it an important region in
agriculture,
industry, fishery and tourism.
The Eastern Region.
The Southern Region
The Southern Region is part of the Malaya Archipelago, a long and narrow
strip of
land sandwiched by the Gulf of Thailand on the east side, and by the Andaman
Sea on the west side. Off shore lie numerous pretty islands and islets. For
example,
to the east are Ko Samui,
and Ko Pha-Ngan. On the
western side are Ko Phuket,
Ko Phi Phi and Mu Ko Surin.
The deeply curved bays and the pacified seas by the
Gulf make the provinces on this side good ports-of-call, and popular cargo
stations
in the old days. The merchandise could easily be transported across the
peninsular
to the west side of the region by Ranong, Phang-Nga, and Krabi. The
diverse
geographical features brought about ethnic and cultural diversity. The
ecosystem is
also diverse, with moist evergreen, mangrove and peat swamp forests, as well
as a
freshwater lagoon. Local folk wisdom is apparent in the everyday lifestyle,
such as
in rubber planting, integrated fruit orchards with several kinds of fruit
trees, such as
rambutans, durians, mangosteens,
longgong and langsat are
planted among native
trees. Local fishery, and handicrafts from natural
materials are unique logos of this
region.
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