Across this landscape live Thailand's population of about 60 million people. Along with the ethnic Thais, who make up around 80 percent of the population, there are significant groups of Chinese (about 10 percent), Malays (about 4 percent), Lao, Mons, Khmers, Indians and Burmese - reflecting this country's long history at the crossroads of Southeast Asia.

Situated in the heart of Southeast Asia and as a gateway to Indochina. Thailandborders Lao PDR in the norht and northeast; the Union of Myanmar in the north and west; Cambodia and the Gulf of Thailand in the east and Malaysia in the south. Thailand covers a land area of 513,115 square kilometres, roughly the size of France and extends about 1,620 kilometres from north to south and 775 kilometres from east to west.

Geographical Regions Thailand can be split up into four distinct geographical regions:

Northern Region: Mountains, forests and fertile valleys. Bordered by Myanmar and Laos, characterised by forested mountains - lower extremities of Himalayan foothills - and fertile river valleys, northern Thailand encompasses part of the fabled Golden Triangle. Diverse elements, including crisp mountain scenary, exotic hill tribes, forests worked by elephants, colourful festivals, invigorating cool season weather, ancient cities, exquisite northern Thai and Burmese-style temples, and friendly people contribute to northern Thailand's enduring charm. [Tourist Information]

North-Eastern Region: A high, semi-arid plateau used mainly for cattle and growing crops such as rice and maize. This is the poorest region of Thailand mainly due to some bad droughts in the past. Known by Thais as I-San, the sprawling Northeast Plateau is bordered to the north and east by the Mekong River and Laos, and to the south largely by Kampuchea (Cambodia). The Northeast is a distinctive region thanks to topography of lovely forested mountains and national parks and rolling farmland as well as to its colourful inhabitants who speak their own melodious dialect, have a delicious highly spiced cuisine, and a hospitable, vibrant folk culture; and because of archaeologically significant excavations and shrines - such as Ban Chiang where the world's oldest Bronze Age civilization flourished some 3,600 years ago; and venerable prasart hin (stone castle) temples, legacy of I-San's former importance to the Angkor-centred Khmer empire. [Tourist Information]

Central Region: Mainly flat and fertile due to the the large Chao Phraya River. This is the main rice-growing area of Thailand. Geographically, the Central Region extends from rugged western mountains bordering Myanmar (Burma) to the northeast plateau to the east; northwards to Nakhon Sawan where the Ping, Wang, Nan and Yom rivers unite to form the Chao Phraya River (River of Kings) which flows southwards to dissect Bangkok before entering the Gulf of Thailand; and southwards to Prachuap Khirikhan where Thailand is compressed to its narrowest point, some 60 kilometres wide between western mountains and the Thai Gulf. The Chao Phraya River largely irrigates the Central Plain, one of the world's major rice and fruit-growing areas, and sustains as intricate network of canals that irrigate bountiful orchards and market gardens; host vibrant floating markets; and support a unique, waterborne way of life. The Central Region is extremely rich in historical sites. These include Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanburi, Bang Pa-In, Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Lopburi and most important of all, Bangkok, Thailand's capital and major point of entry. [Tourist Information]

Southern Region: Hilly and mountainous, covered mainly in rain forests. The land is rich in mineral deposits. This area also receives the most annual rainfall. Lush tropical islands, dazzling palm-fringed beaches, coral reefs teeming with colourful marine life, picturesque fishing villages with distinctive handpainted boats, remote national parks, forested mountains, waterfalls, historic cities, ubiquitous rubber estates, scenic wildlife sanctuaries, the juxtaposition of temples and mosques clearly define the region's visual appeal. Geographically, southern Thailand extends through the Kra Isthmus from Chumphon, 460 kilometres south of Bangkok, to the Thai-Malaysian border, and is bordered in the east by the Gulf of Thailand, to the west by the Indian Ocean. [Tourist Information]

- Information from Tourist Authority of Thailand Travel Manual