Blog 2-Oct 11

Thailand blog 2:

The hydrology of Thailand is vast and complex. Thailand’s main two river systems are the Mekong River and the Chao Phraya. They both are responsible for feeding irrigation in and around Thailand, but the Mekong is the only one that sheds into the South China Sea, ultimately in Vietnamese territory with a trellis type pattern cutting through the terrain. The Mekong is actually the 11^th longest river in the world and the 12^th largest by volume, and also drains an area of 810,000 sq km. The Chao Phraya however drains into the Gulf of Thailand with a single stream, wide mouth area similar to an alluvial fan type drainage basin. It is unique in that it flows right through the middle of Thailand and through Bangkok. The ground water in Thailand is mainly recharged with rainfall and seepage streams and is used to meet the large water demands of Thailand.

            As far as the land and growing capability of Thailand goes, the Central region is the most fertile, as stated earlier. The Chao Phraya River is rich in clay-type soil that provides better fertility. Some of the lands are also used for maize and sugarcane cultivation. Throughout most of the country, the soil is fairly poor due to heavy rainfall and leaching. The soil around the Mekong River in the more southern region is largely infertile due to the heavy salt content or salinization. In this area the soil is mostly grey with brown or yellowish mottles present. In the dryer season the salt and calcium are more visible towards the soil surface.

 ^The Mekong River

^The Chao Phraya River and drainage basin. 

 Sources-

http://www.scribd.com/doc/35337529/Thailand-Soil-Types

http://www.wepa-db.net/policies/state/thailand/thailand.htm

http://www.photius.com/countries/thailand/economy/thailand_economy_land_use_and_soils.html

Thailand sits in Southeast Asia, and covers the area of about 514,000 square kilometers with a population of 60 million. The country shares borders with Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Andamen and South China Sea. Geopolitically, Thailand is divided into seven regions; the North, Northeast, Central Plains, East, West, and the Bangkok metropolitan region. The central region encompasses the Bangkok area and is known as “Thailand’s rice bowl”, due to its fertile soil that helps grow fruit and rice. The North is Thailand’s largest region and contains Thailand’s mountainous areas filled with alluvial valleys. The cooler climate helps cultivate fruits like strawberries and peaches. Recently though, the forested mountain area has been overcut.

The Southern region is notoriously known for its amazing beaches and breathtaking tropical scenes. Economically they region is known for its tin and rubber production, as well as fishing. The high rainfall in this area that benefits rubber growth also assists in floods in the area as well. Being that the Southern region is being overcut as well, and the soil quality in that region is poor, it is conducive to flash flooding in the area. 

Thailand- 1st blog by Matt Miller

Hi, my name is Matt Miller, and this is my first blog entry for Physical Geography. I am a psychology major in my junior year of college. Originally I am from Phoenix, Arizona and have lived several places in Colorado, the US, and around the world before settling down in Denver.

The place I have chosen to blog about is the country of Thailand. I have been long fascinated by the countries gorgeous beaches, jungles, culture, and people. It is a country with rich history and amazing landscapes that rival many others. It is my hope that after graduating from UCD that I can teach in Thailand, or at least visit to finally see it. -Matt