Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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» Bangkok sits at about N14° latitude, level with Madras, Manila, Guatemala and Khar-
toum.
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» The Mekong rivals the Amazon River in terms of biodiversity.
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» Thailand is home to six types of venomous snakes, including the pit viper and the king
cobra.
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» Thailand's limestone formations are a soft sedimentary rock created by shells and cor-
al from an ancient sea bed 250 to 300 million years ago.
Northeastern Thailand
The landscape of Thailand's northeastern region is occupied by the arid Khorat
Plateau rising some 300m above the central plain. This is a hardscrabble land
where the rains are meagre, the soil is anaemic and the red dust stains as stub-
bornly as the betel nut chewed by the ageing grandmothers. The dominant forest is
dry dipterocarp, which consists of deciduous trees that shed their leaves in the dry
season to conserve water. The region's largest forest preserve is Khao Yai National
Park, which, together with nearby parks, has been recognised as a Unesco World
Heritage Site. The park is mainly arid forest, a favourite of hornbills and over 300
other bird species. There is a small population of wild elephants in the park but de-
velopment around the perimeter has impacted important wildlife corridors.
Mekong River
Defining the contours of Thailand's border with Laos is the Mekong River, southeast
Asia's artery. The Mekong is a workhorse, having been dammed for hydroelectric
power, and a mythmaker, featuring in local people's folktales and festivals. The river
winds in and out of the steep mountain ranges to the northeastern plateau where it
swells and contracts according to seasonal rainfall. In the dry season, riverside
farmers plant vegetables in the muddy floodplain, harvesting the crop before the
river reclaims its territory.
