Regions of Thailand
Encyclopedia
Thailand
is variably divided into different sets of regions, the most notable of which are the six-region grouping used in geographic studies and the four-region grouping consistent with the former administrative region grouping system used by the Ministry of Interior. These regions are the largest subdivisions of the country. In contrast to the provinces
the regions have no administrative character, but are subdivisions used for statistical or other geographical purposes only.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
is variably divided into different sets of regions, the most notable of which are the six-region grouping used in geographic studies and the four-region grouping consistent with the former administrative region grouping system used by the Ministry of Interior. These regions are the largest subdivisions of the country. In contrast to the provinces
Provinces of Thailand
Thailand is divided into 76 provinces , which are geographically grouped into 6 regions. The capital Bangkok is not a province but a special administrative area and is included as the 77th province since it is administered at the same level as the other 76 provinces. The name of the provinces are...
the regions have no administrative character, but are subdivisions used for statistical or other geographical purposes only.
Six-region system
The six-region system was developed in 1978 by the National Geographical Committee, which was appointed by the National Research Council. It divides Thailand into the following regions:- Northern ThailandNorthern ThailandThailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
- Northeastern Thailand
- Western ThailandWestern ThailandWestern Thailand is a region of Thailand bordering Myanmar on the west and Central Thailand on the east.-Geography:Thailand's long mountainous border with Myanmar continues south from Northern Thailand into Western Thailand following the Tenasserim Hills...
- Central ThailandCentral ThailandCentral Thailand is a region of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from North-East Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range, and another mountain range separates it from Myanmar to the west. In the north it gently changes into the more hilly...
- Eastern ThailandEastern ThailandEastern Thailand is a region of Thailand bordering Cambodia on the east and Central Thailand on the west.-Geography:Eastern Thailand lies between the Sankamphaeng Range, which forms the border of the Northeastern plateau to the north and the Gulf of Thailand to the south...
- Southern ThailandSouthern ThailandSouthern Thailand is a distinct region of Thailand, connected with the Central region by the narrow Kra Isthmus.-Geography:Southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula, with an area around 70,713 km², bounded to the north by Kra Isthmus as the narrowest part of the peninsula. The...
Four-region system
The four-region system divides the country into the following regions:- Northern ThailandNorthern ThailandThailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...
- Northeastern ThailandIsanIsan is the northeastern region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, by Cambodia to the southeast and the Prachinburi mountains south of Nakhon Ratchasima...
- Central ThailandCentral ThailandCentral Thailand is a region of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from North-East Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range, and another mountain range separates it from Myanmar to the west. In the north it gently changes into the more hilly...
- Southern ThailandSouthern ThailandSouthern Thailand is a distinct region of Thailand, connected with the Central region by the narrow Kra Isthmus.-Geography:Southern Thailand is located on the Malay Peninsula, with an area around 70,713 km², bounded to the north by Kra Isthmus as the narrowest part of the peninsula. The...