5 Themes of Geography: Thailand

5 THEMES OF GEOGRAPHY PROJECT

T H A I L A N D

PUBLISHED JANUARY 31, 2023

CREATED BY ZOE CHAN

MRS. RAEHPOUR'S THIRD-HOUR GEOGRAPHY CLASS

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THAILAND INSIDER

PHOTO OF MU KO ANG THONG NATIONAL MARINE PARK

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE 4 - LOCATION

PAGE 6 - PLACE

PAGE 10 - HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

PAGE 12 - MOVEMENT

PAGE 14 - REGION

PAGE 18 - EXTRA FACTS

SAWASDEE FROM THAILAND

WRITTEN BY ZOE CHAN

With clear, blue oceans to beautiful, breathtaking sunsets, Thailand is home to many locals and foreigners. It also happens to be a popular tourist location as well. Located near the equator, Thailand is the perfect, tropical spot for tourist along with locals as many

tropical crops grow in benefit for the country. Where does Thailand lie?

How do you get to this beautifulsounding paradise?

Relative: 15.72°N, 100.93°E

Absolute: The country of Thailand lies North of the country of Malaysia and lies east of the Bay of Bengal and west of the South China Sea.

Thailand is in the center of Southeast Asia. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar border the country, Cambodia and Laos in the East and Northeast and Myanmar in the Northwest. The Andaman Sea lies to the West and the Gulf of Thailand lies down South, right next to Thailand. The long, southern country is tied to Malaysia further south of the globe, creating the shape of the Gulf of Thailand. Looking further into where Thailand lies in the world, the continent of Australia sits in the Indian Ocean, Southeast of Thailand. Thailand is located 15° above the Equator. This makes Thailand a part of the many countries found in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the continent of Asia is located in the Eastern Hemisphere; this means Thailand is located in both the Eastern and Northern Hemispheres. In fact, parts of Thailand are located in the mainland, also known as a peninsula, of the Asian continent, along with other countries such as Burma, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Below; A physical map of Thailand with key. Map provided by WorldoMeter.

Above; Traditional fishing boat on Thailand shores Photo provided by Hotels.com

THAILAND AND ITS BEAUTY

Cultural Features

Thailand welcomes tourists and locals

with many attributes that draw the attention of its residents. From the climate to the land it has to offer, Thailand is the a great tropical trip.

Capital & Major Cities

The capital of Thailand is Bangkok. Major cities in Thailand include Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chiang Mai. With a population of 70.2 million, Nonthaburi has a population of approximately 1 million.

Thailand is home to many different ethnicities of people who may believe in different religious practices. According to ReachtoTeach, 95% of the country is Theravada Buddhist. In other parts of the country, other practices include Buddhism and Indian influences along with Chinese traditions in the mix.

Known throughout the world, the national language of Thailand is Thai. However, there are many dialects

Isaan, Southern Thai, and Northern Thai. Central Thai is often used in education and is often referred to as the national dialect. It is most commonly used by foreigners and those that live in Central Thai.

Referring back to the cultural practices in Thailand, Buddhism is popular. Buddism refers to the belief in ancestral spirits and/or other spirits. It is common to find people in Thailand offering gifts or food to their ancestors. They believe that if their ancestors/spirits are happy

then their household will be blessed and be in peace; however if they fear that their ancestors are upset, it will bring chaos upon their household.

Economy

Thailand is often dependent on exports and goods; the exports coming from Thailand often include 86% of manufactured goods, 14% of electronics, 13% of vehicles, 7.5% of machinery and equipment, and 7.5% of food-stuff (all provided by TradingEconomics).

THE SIGHTS OF THAILAND

Many Thai customs may seem unusual to foreigners; however, these customs are sacred to those who have grown up on these lands. Taking off shoes is a must when entering a person's home. This is a simple custom that is always followed whether a person is in someone's house or a temple. Another custom is to never point. It is considered rude and impolite. Of course, when you and your friends point, it's not considered rude. However, in Thailand, you must not point at any of the monks or pictures of the Royal Family; in general, simply don't point at someone or to point something out.

Housing

With Thailand being at an altitu of 287 meters above sea level a with seasonal monsoons, a patte forms with the architecture houses in Thailand. Houses Thailand often have floors abo ground level with stilts to raise t house above the ground in times flooding. The cost of living in hous in Thailand range from $150,000 $700,000 US dollars; however, depends on the houses you look a

Many tourist attractions are brought to the eyes of foreigners. Some of these attractions include The Grand Palace, Wat Arun Ratchawararam, Kaho Yai National Park, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Bangkok's Floating Market, etc. There are many different attractions offered in Thailand; these are only a few of the most popular ones. Thailand locals often cherise the Royal Family which explains The Grand Palace as a tourist attraction.

Relative: 15.72°N, 100.93°E

The country of Thailand is also often visited due to the tropical beaches it has to offer. Many consider the beaches as a natural tourist attraction themsleves.

INTERACTING WITH THAILAND

Positives

Thailand offers many resources such as

wood, water, fruit, fish, etc. People use these resources to make a living (selling) or to eat. The environment also interacts with people as it brings monsoons that can cause flooding in households and cities.

Due to the tropical climate, the country has the best requirements for many popular crops to grow: rice, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, mango, pineapple, etc. Along with delicious crops, due to Thailand’s exposure to the large bodies of water, Thailand is

The environment also interacts back; Monsoons can damage households and the environment around them.

popular in exports of fish. Thailand also has vast, large forests which are home to many different species. Thailand also has many mineral resources as they have many mines; they are one of the leading producers of minerals.

Negatives

However, many negatives can come with actions to use the resources. Things such as deforestation and air/water pollution can drive animals and plants to extinction. This can cause problems that may lead to scarcity. Speaking of scarcity, using too much of the water provided by rivers can cause scarcity as well.

MOVING AROUND THAILAND

Getting around Thailand has a variety of Trains

transports. From riding in a boat to hopping on a tuk-tuk, Thailand has it all.

and Buses

One of the most common uses of transportation around the world is trains and buses. The capital city of Thailand, Bangkok, has many different train transports. Along with parades, Thailand offers buses; the buses are often brightcolored. Some buses are decorated with famous Disney characters and other special cartoons. Many of the buses are decorated to complement the bright nature of the country.

Boats

Using boats as a mode of transportation is not surprising. Just as other countries have train stations, Thailand has both train and boat stations, sitting next to the river.

Tuk-Tuks and Taxis

Tuk-tuks are small, threewheeled, open-doored vehicles. They are often used in Thai cities and can range in color and are often used like taxis. In larger cities, taxis are often used instead of Tuk-tuks.

Getting to Thailand

Most of the time, tourists and travelers use airlines to get to Thailand; however, it does not mean that you can not travel by boat.

Communication

Thailand has many types of communication used throughout the country. Most of them include land-lines, international telephone connections, public phones, radio, and mobile cellular phones

SEPERATING THAILAND

Thailand lies on the continent of As

Greater Mekong Subregion, Southeastern region of Asia. Tha traditionally split into four subregi include Lan Na (Northeast Thaila (Central Thailand), Isaan (Nor Thailand), and Tambralinga Thailand). However, over time, this six including now, Northern and Thailand.

Lan Na

Lan Na was one of the first major kingdoms founded in Thailand. It is the capital city of Chiang Mai. It was the cause of the major spread of Theravada Buddhism.

Siam

Thailand was originally named Siam before it was changed back to Thailand only to be changed back to Siam between 1946-1948. It is often known as Central Thailand.

Above; A photo of Bangkok, Thailand with the Chao Phraya River. Photo provided by Conde Nast Traveler

Middle; A photo of Tiger Cave Temple near Krabi Town. Photo provided by PlanetWare.

Far Right, Top; A photo featuring the Lost City of Ayutthaya. Photo provided by TravelTalk.

Far Right, Bottom; A photo of the cities of Bangkok, Thailand. Photo provided by National Geographic.

Isaan

Isaan, Eastern Thailand, is known for being the "heartland of Thailand" and is the most distinct place out of all the subregions of Thailand. Isaan is generally poorer than the rest of the subregions; however, this is where most farming occurs and nature is at its purest form.

Tambralinga

Lastly, there is Tambralinga which is known as Southern Thailand. Many beaches and islands are a part of this subregion. This subregion is the most popular of the others for tourists to visit due to the beaches and islands.

Differences in Thailand's Regions

Some distinct differences in regions of Thailand are features such as coasts and mountains/rivers. In Southern Thailand, the region consists of a lot of coasts and islands which makes fishing and tourism very popular. Along with tourism popularity in Southern Thailand, it is also popular in Central Thailand which is home to the bigger cities. On the other hand, Isaan is heavy in agriculture such as farming and a lot of the land has not been processed on.

Left; Islands in Southern Thailand show clear, blue waters and tropical islands. Photo provided by Fodor's Travel.

Right; A photo of part of Ancient Siam featuring famous monuments.

Photo provided by Khanom Travel.

Left; Farmer boating around a lily garden in Isaan.

Photo provided by Travelvina

Thailand's currency is called Baht 1 Thai Baht is equal to 0.031 US dollars.

FUN FACTS ABOUT THAILAND

Thailand's country flower is the ratchaphruek. It is also known as the "Golden Shower Tree".

The culture in Thailand considers the head to be the most sacred part of the body It is considered highly disrespectful to touch someone's head, even a child's.

People of Thailand consider the elephant their country's animal. They are a symbol of good fortune and are considered the guardians of Buddha. White elephants are considered to represent the Royal Family.

RESEARCH SOURCES

Asian Highlights

Britannica

Britannica Kids

Club Unique

Dream Big Travel Far

Facts and Details

Greater Mekong

Ling App

Nations Online

Open Development: Thailand

Photius.org

Pattaya Unlimited

The Planet D

Thailand for Visitors

Trading Economics

Tranio

Travel Bud

Tourism Thailand

Reach to Recruiting

World Atlas

World Bank: Climate Knowledge Portal

NOTE FROM THE WRITER

I hope you enjoyed the presentation of one of Asia's most breathtaking countries! I had a great time designing, and writing about this country; I learned a few things about this country in the process! My favorite part about this project was definitely getting to put my design skills to use. My original plan was the present this production in a physical copy, but with the amount of time I put into this and the number of pages I used, things would get too hectic. So, I hope the online version still has the same effect.

T H A I L A N D

PUBLISHED JANUARY 31, 2023

CREATED BY ZOE CHAN MRS. RAEHPOUR'S THIRD-HOUR GEOGRAPHY CLASS

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THAILAND INSIDER

PHOTO OF MU KO ANG THONG NATIONAL MARINE PARK