thailand

*Main Thailand Facts*

Capital: Bangkok
Official Language: Thai
Religion:Buddhism
Currency: Baht
Population: 64,865,523 (July 2004)
Total Area: 514,000 square kilometers
Geographic Coordinates: 15 N, 100 E

*Geography*

    The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is in southeast Asia. Its land borders are with Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Cambodia (Kampuchea),and Malaysia. Its sea borders are with the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
     Bangkok, a major port, is also the capital city. Chiang Mai is the second largest city.
     The Chao Phya is Thailand's most important river and flows through Bangkok.
     Thailand is mountainous in the north and west with a central plain and the Khorat Plateau in the east.
     The climate is tropical with rains brought with the southwest monsoon in mid May.

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*Environment*

    In 1961, the National Park Act was passed to protect Thailand's natural resources. A number of parks including Doi Luang National Park and the Tarutao National Marine Park were established.
     Forests cover over a quarter of the country and the trees include teak, mangrove, rattan, and palm. Bright yellow bua tong flowers grow in the mountains; other flowering plants are the hibiscus and the orchid.
     Elephants are a symbol of Thailand- the white elephant being highly prized. Today, the elephant population has fallen from hundreds of thousands to thousands because of loss of habitat. Animals in the National Parks and sanctuaries are tigers, leopards, panthers, bears, monkeys, and barking deer.

*Food*

    Thai cuisine is spicy using ingrediants such as coriander, tumeric, mint, garlic, chilli pepper, ginger, and coconut milk. Sea food and shredded meat-often chicken- is eaten with rice or noodles. Fish sauce and satay are popular. Salad, sometimes sprinkled with peanuts, is served with the main meal.
     Thailand has a variety of tropical fruit including the duran, the jackfruit, bananas, and mangoes which are served for dessert. Food carving is an art-form and practiced for special occasions.
     Thais drink iced water, coffee, and tea. Beer and a rice-based whiskey are also drunk.

*History*

    Early man lived in many areas in Thailand. Ban Chiang is the site of one of the oldest civilizations in southeast Asia. Archaeological evidence also shows that the ancient town of Sri Thep was inhabited in prehistoric times. These early people were followed by the Mon, the Khmer (the Cambodians), and the Tai.
     In the early thirteenth century the first Thai city of Sukhothai was built. This was followed by the founding of Lanna Thai, Chiang Mai, and Ayuthaya. The city of Ayuthaya survived for over four hundred years until it was destroyed by Burmese invaders in the eighteenth century.
     From the thirteenth to the nineteenth century the Thai kings had close ties with China. The Portugese, Spanish, French, Dutch, English, and Japanese all traded with Thailand. The French tried to take control of the country but Thailand resisted European control. In 1826, the British negogiated the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Thailand increasing British influence in the country until the end of the century.
     Thailand was an absolute monarchy until 1932 when a bloodless coup led to the country becoming a constitutional monarchy.
     During World War II, Thailand was occupied by the Japanese. By the end of the war, Thailand had established a relationship with the United States and was used as an aircraft base by the Americans during the Vietnamese War (1961-1975).
     Thailiand is a member of the United Nations and ASEAN, the Associtaion of South East Asia Nations.

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