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Geography
& Climate |
Geography
 Thailand
is a humid, tropical country lying approximately between latitudes
6° and 21° north. It is located almost equidistant
between India and China. Thailand covers an
area of 513,115 sq km, (198,115 square miles), which is about
the same size as France.
Thailand
is considered to have a strategic location as the gateway
to the Indochinese countries as it is situated right at the
heart of mainland Southeast Asia.
It
shares borders with Myanmar to the west and north, Lao P.D.R.
to the north and northeast, Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand
to the east and Malaysia to the south.
 Thailand’s
landscapes vary from high mountains to fertile alluvial plains
dotted with rice paddies to white sandy beaches and islands.
The country is roughly divided into four distinct areas, each
constituting a separate physical region. They are the north,
the central plains or the Chao Phraya river basin, the northeast
or the Korat Plateau, and the South or southern peninsula.
The
north is a mountainous region comprising natural forests,
ridges and deep, narrow alluvial valleys. Central Thailand
is a lush, fertile valley. It is the richest and most extensive
rice-producing area in the country and has often been called
the Rice Bowl of Asia. Bangkok,
the capital of Thailand is also located in this central region.
The
northeastern region or the Korat Plateau is a semi-arid region
characterized by rolling surface terrain and undulating hills.
Harsh climatic conditions often result in this region being
subjected to floods and droughts.
Its
many beautiful tropical beaches and offshore islands distinguish
the South, a narrow isthmus of land between the Andaman Sea
and the Gulf of Thailand. Due to this different geographical
location, the south of the country has a unique diversity
of flora and fauna.
Thailand
is about 1,000 km (620 miles) to the south of the Tropic Cancer,
within the tropical monsoon zone of Southeast Asia. Thailand's
climate is consequently warm and mild throughout the year,
though there are slight differences in each particular region.
 Roughly
divided, there are three seasons: the cool season (November
to February), the hot season (April to May), and the rainy
season (June to October). Average temperatures are about 29°
C, ranging in Bangkok from 35° C in April to 17° C
in December. The northern region can be a bit cooler during
the cool season, so visitors are advised to pack a sweater
or light jacket at this time. Closer to the equator, the southern
peninsula of Thailand has little seasonal variation in climate.
The
best time to travel to Thailand is when the weather is cooler
during mid-October to early March. It's OK to visit Thailand
during the off-season too as the temperature is generally
moderate throughout this period and there are always lots
of festivals and activities all-year-round.
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