thailand-laenderinformationen-insel-thai-meer-gruen-natucate

Thailand

Highlights in Thailand

Geography of Thailand

Thailand is part of Southeast Asia and borders Myanmar and Laos to the north. Its neighbours to the south are Cambodia and Malaysia. Thailand extends approximately 1700 km from north to south. The country has a long coastline running to the south. Thailand has the Gulf of Thailand to the east, and the Andaman Sea, a marginal sea of the eastern Indian Ocean, to the west. The mountainous region in the north is dominated by extensive forests. The Mekong River in the Isaan region to the north-east serves as a natural border. The Chao Phraya river crosses the country’s central plains. There are countless islands along the 3219 km of coastline to the south, while the east coast is lined with impressive and steep rock faces.

thailand-laenderinformationen-bangkok-tempel-stadt-natucate

Geomorphology/Geology

Thailand can be divided into three main parts: the folded mountains in the North and West, the central low lands of Chao Phraya River and the Khorat plateau in the East. The folded mountains are foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. The famous Tenasserim mountain chain has got a total length of 1.700 km and consists of rocks from Devonian and Carbon age as well as granites from Cretaceous periods. The landscapes of today are formed by erosions and are characterized by rounded structures and peneplains. The central low lands consist of geologically young sediments, which were transported by the strongly meandering Chao Phraya River. All in all they count up to 2.000 m! The delta of Chao Phraya into the Gulf of Thailand is a large and worth seeing area. Thailand’s southeastern part comprises the bays of Bangkok which trend up to the border of Cambodia. The hilly areas in the South developed from glacial events during the last ice age. At the coast you can find high karst hills and chalkstones.

Travel Tips and Trivia for Thailand

Climate in Thailand

Thailand is characterized by humid tropical temperatures. Therefore, Thailand is the perfect travelling sport all over the year. In case you are a friend of rather lower temperatures you should go there between November and March, when there are average temperatures of 25°C. The mountainous northern part of the country is generally colder than the South. Sometimes even snow and ice can occur there. From March to May it is mostly dry and temperatures rise up to 30 °C. Since the central area is rather hot and humid then, you are well advised to spend your time in the mountains or by the sea. Between June and October there can be heavy rainfalls and the landscapes turns into lush green colours.

Ein thailaendischer Kuestenabschnitt mit turekisblauem Wasser und einigen Booten im Ozean

Flora and Fauna in Thailand

Due to its diverse landscapes Thailand is home to many different species and a so-called hotspot of biodiversity. It is possible to observe wild Asian elephants, Asian black bears, gibbons, bats and plenty of colourful bird species. One of the most characteristic animals of Thailand’s nature is certainly the Asian elephant which occurs mostly in the South. It is smaller than its African cousin but similarly endangered. Since 1986 the Asian elephant is listed on the IUCN red list of threatened species. Main problems are the loss of habitat and destruction of forest due to agriculture. Also other species like white-handed gibbons, otter civets and Siam crocodiles are threatened by this development.

Ein Krebs auf einem thailaendischen Strand sticht vor allem durch seine braun-orange Faerbung hervor

Social Geography of Thailand

Need help with planning your trip?

We are happy to support you! Together we find the best adventure for you and prepare your trip abroad.

Known from …