Thailand--Geography

CIA FactbookThe World Factbook 1993: Thailand Geography

Location: Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Burma and Cambodia

Area: total area: 514,000 km2 land area: 511,770 km2 comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries: total 4,863 km, Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Coastline: 3,219 km

Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

International disputes: boundary dispute with Laos; unresolved maritime boundary with Vietnam

Climate: tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain: central plain; eastern plateau (Khorat); mountains elsewhere

Natural resources: tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite

Land use: arable land: 34% permanent crops: 4% meadows and pastures: 1% forest and woodland: 30% other: 31%

Irrigated land: 42,300 km2 (1989 est.)

Environment: air and water pollution; land subsidence in Bangkok area

Note: controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore