Total area: 514,000 sq km (198,455 sq mi)
Population (2009 est.): 65,905,410
Capital and largest city (2000): Bangkok - 6,320,174
Other large cities: Nonthanburi - 304,700; Chiang Mai - 175,500
Currency: baht
Languages: Thai (Siamese), English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects
Religions: Buddhist 95%, Islam 5%, Christian 1% (2000)
Time zone: GMT+7; DST is not observed
Electricity: AC 220V/50Hz; European plugs with two round pins are the standard
Thailand is a country in southeast Asia, occupying the western half of the Indochinese peninsula and the northern two-thirds of the Malay Peninsula. It borders Myanmar (Burma) to the northwest, Laos to the northeast, Cambodia to the southeast and Malaysia to the south. Thailand has a long coastline on the Andaman Sea and on the Gulf of Thailand. It has maritime boundaries with Vietnam, Indonesia and India.
The landscapes in the north of Thailand are dominated by mountains. The highest point is Doi Inthanon, at 2,565 m (8,415 ft). The Khorat Plateau (Isan region), bordered on the east by the Mekong River, lies in the northeast. The central part of the country is mostly flat and fertile with Chao Phraya river valley dominating the landscapes. The central region is mainly agricultural. The eastern region is situated south of the Isan and it's home to numerous beaches and resort towns. The south of Thailand comprises the Kra Isthmus and the Malay Peninsula.
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