Chiang Rai | ||
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Province | ||
เชียงราย | ||
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Coordinates: 19°54′N 99°49′E / 19.900°N 99.817°ECoordinates: 19°54′N 99°49′E / 19.900°N 99.817°E | ||
Capital | Chiang Rai | |
Government | ||
• Governor | Bunsong Techamanisathit (since October 2015) | |
Area | ||
• Total | 11,678 km2 (4,509 sq mi) | |
Population (2014) | ||
• Total | 1,207,699 | |
Human Development Index | ||
• HDI (2009) | 0.752 (high) (rank?) | |
Postal code | 57xxx | |
Calling code | 053 | |
Vehicle registration | เชียงราย | |
Accession into Kingdom of Thailand | 1910 | |
Accession into Kingdom of Thailand | 1932 | |
Website | http://www.chiangrai.go.th |
Chiang Rai (Thai: เชียงราย, pronounced [t͡ɕʰīaŋ.rāːj]; Lanna: ᨩ᩠ᨿᨦᩁᩣ᩠ᨿ, pronounced [tɕiaŋ.haːj]; Burmese: ) is the northernmost province of Thailand. It is bordered by the Shan State of Myanmar to the north, Bokeo Province of Laos to the east, Phayao to the south, Lampang to the southwest, and Chiang Mai to the west.
The average elevation of the province is 580 metres (1,900 ft). The north of the province is part of the so-called Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma converge, an area which prior to the rise of agricultural production of coffee, pineapple, coconuts, and banana plantations, was unsafe because of drug smuggling across the borders. The Mekong River forms the boundary with Laos, the Mae Sai and Ruak River with Burma. Through the town of Chiang Rai itself, flows the "Mae Kok" Kok River and south of it the Lao River, a tributary of the Kok.