The North of Thailand

The North Region of Thailand
The North region of Thailand has a total area of 93,690.85 sq. km. and is comprised of 9 provinces which are as follows:

Provinces of North Thailand	No.	Province	Area (sq. km.)	Pop. as of 1997
	1	Chiang Mai	11,678.37	1,261,138
	2	Chiang Rai	20,107.06	1,573,757
	3	Lampang	12,533.96	807,362
	4	Lampun	4,505.88	408,804
	5	Mae Hong Son	12,681.26	229,284
	6	Nan	11,472.07	484,116
	7	Payao	6,335.06	517,622
	8	Phrae	6,538.60	494,637
	9	Uttaradit	7,838.59	481,563

Geography and Climate
Mountains, rivers and lakes: The North has 6 significant mountain ranges, 9 significant rivers and 1 lake:

Mountains, Rivers and Lakes of North Thailand	Mountain Ranges		Rivers and Lakes
	No. (Red)	Mountain Range	No. (Purple)	River or Lake
	1	Chom Thong	1	Ing River
	2	Daen Lao	2	Kok River
	3	Khun Taan	3	Moei River
	4	Luang Prabang	4	Nan River
	5	Phii Pan Nam	5	Pai River
	6	Thanon Thongchai	6	Ping River
			7	Wang River
			8	Yom River
			9	Yuam River
			10	Kwaan Payao Lake

Plains: Virtually all of the plains in the North are between the mountain ranges and have the same name as the rivers that run through them.
Influences on Climate: The North's climate is influenced by the southwest monsoon and the northeast monsoon winds as well as the depression storms. Influence from the ocean is minimal due to the distance from the oceans (500 - 875 km.). The mountains of the North are arranged in a north-south pattern, and thus do not block the winds. Also the North's high average altitude (1600 m) contributes to its low temperature.
Temperature: The annual average tempature is 26.5 C, with the average highest temperature being 28.8 C, and the average lowest temperature being 23.6 C. The highest temperature ever recorded in the North was 44.5 C (Uttaradit Province, 1960) and the lowest until recent times was 2.0 C (Chiang Rai Province).
Rainfall: The rain in the North is usually provided by the southwest monsoon winds and depression storms. On average the annual rainfall in the North is 1200 mm. The province with the most annual rainfall (recorded between 1937 and 1955) is Chiang Rai (1744 mm.), the least is Lampun (1045.9 mm.)
Seasons: The North has 3 seasons, the rainy season, from mid-May to September or early October, when the southwest monsoon winds and depression storms exert their influence, winter, from mid-October to February, when the northeast monsoon winds exert their influence, and summer, from March to mid-May, when the southwest monsoon winds blow heat in from the South.

Places of Interest
The North has many places of interest, for example:
1. Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai Province
    Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is a temple located on a mountain 11 km. from Chiang Mai town. It is the province's most important temple.
2. Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai Province
    The Golden Triangle marks the point where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. It was once notorious for the growing of opium in the area, but this has since stopped due to the Inthanont Royal Project (below).
3. Doi Inthanont, Chiang Mai Province
    Doi Inthanont is the country's highest mountain at 2,565 m. and is in the Chom Thong Range. The Inthanont Royal Project, located there, has encouraged the people of the Karen and Meo Tribes to grow agricultural crops instead of opium.
4. Doi Tung, Chiang Rai Province
    Doi Tung has a residence that belonged to the late Queen Mother Srinakaharinthara, who died in 1995. In front of the residence there is a large flower garden with various kinds of flowers.
5. Kwaan Payao, Payao Province
    Kwaan Payao is Payao Province's most important water source and is also the North's main source of freshwater fish.
Also, the North has a substantial number of tribal people (about 550,000) and good trekking trails.