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Thailand
has a population of 61 million and its capital is Bangkok.
The people are 75% Thai, 11% Chinese, 3.5% Malay, also Mon, Khmer, Phuan and
Karen minorities. Thai is spoken here and it
is a Democratic Constitutional Monarchy. Buddhism is the dominant religion, and
orange-robed monks and gold, marble and stone Buddha’s are common sights in Thailand.
The
borders of Thailand are Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Cambodia. The country's east
coast borders the Gulf of Thailand and the west coast abuts the Andaman Sea. Thailand is
divided into four distinct areas. the mountainous North, the fertile Central Plains, the
semi-arid plateau of the Northeast, and the peninsula South, distinguished by its many
beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands. The highest peak is the 2596m (8512ft)
Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai province.
A quarter
of Thailand is covered by rainforest, and the country has an incredible array of fruit
trees, bamboo and tropical hardwoods. Wildlife covers 11 per cent of the country. The
tiger, for instance, is one of the most endangered of Thailand's mammals but the market
for tiger organs, particularly in China, is so lucrative that poaching is still a viable
career option.
Thailand is the only
country in Southeast Asia to never be colonized. |
