South Thailand
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Southern Region ภาคใต้ |
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|---|---|
| Region | |
     From upper-left to lower-right: Sunrise Thailand Ko Samui, Tarutao National Park, Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Rajjaprabha Dam and Phuket City.
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 Southern Region in Thailand |
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| Largest city | Hat Yai |
| Provinces | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 70,715.2 km2 (27,303.3 sq mi) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 9,290,708 |
| • Density | 130/km2 (340/sq mi) |
| Demonym(s) | Southern Thai |
| Language | Southern Thai • others |
Southern Thailand is a distinct region of Thailand, connected with the central region by the narrow Kra Isthmus.
Southern Thailand is on the Malay Peninsula, with an area of around 70,713 km2 (27,302 sq mi), bounded to the north by Kra Isthmus, the narrowest part of the peninsula. The western part has steeper coasts, while on the east side river plains dominate. The largest river of the south is the Tapi in Surat Thani, which together with the Phum Duang in Surat Thani drains more than 8,000 km2 (3,100 sq mi), more than 10 percent of the total area of southern Thailand. Smaller rivers include the Pattani, Saiburi, Krabi, and the Trang. The biggest lake of the south is Songkhla Lake (1,040 km2 (400 sq mi) altogether). The largest artificial lake is the Chiao Lan (Ratchaprapha Dam), occupying 165 km2 (64 sq mi) of Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani.
Running through the middle of the peninsula are several mountain chains, with the highest elevation at Khao Luang, 1,835 m (6,020 ft), in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Ranging from the Kra Isthmus to Phuket Island is the Phuket chain, which connects to the Tanao Si Mountain Range further north. Almost parallel to the Phuket chain, but 100 km (60 mi) to the east is the Nakhon Si Thammarat or Banthat chain, which begins with Samui Island, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Tao in Surat Thani Province and ends at the Malaysian border at the Ko Ta Ru Tao archipelago. The border with Malaysia is formed by the Sankalakhiri range, sometimes sub-divided into the Pattani, Taluban, and Songkhla chain. At the Malaysian border the Titiwangsa chain rises up.
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Wikipedia