Download Thailand was known as Siam until 1939

Thailand was known as Siam until 1939.
The name "Thailand" means "Land of the Free".
The Mekong River, the longest river in South-East Asia, forms a border between Thailand and Laos.
Phunket is Thailand's largest island.
White (albino) elephants were highly prized by the kings of Thailand.
The Siamese cat was brought to Britain from Thailand in 1884 by the British Consul General of Bangkok.
Thailand's largest reclining Buddha image can be found in the temple, Wat Po.
The world's tallest Buddhist monument in the world stands 127 meters (387 feet) in the town of Nakhon Pathom.
Most young men are Buddhist monks for a short time and shaven-head monks go out and ask for alms each morning.
In Bangkok, and elsewhere in Thailand, goods can be bought from floating markets where produce is sold from boats.
Silk production has a long tradition in Thailand.
"The Golden Triangle" where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet on the Mekong River was a centre for growing opium
poppies.
"The Beach", written by Alex Garland, is about a young backpacker who found a legendary beach in Thailand. The story
was later made into a film.
On 26 December 2004, a quake occurred under the sea near Aceh in north Indonesia (8.9 on the Richter scale); this
produced tsunamis causing flooding and destruction in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar,
Thailand, Sri Lanka and the east coast of Africa (Kenya and Somalia).
Geography
The Kingdom of Thailand, formerly known as Siam, is in South East Asia. Its land borders are with Myanmar (Burma),
Laos, Cambodia (Kampuchea) and Malaysia.
Bangkok, a major port, is also the capital city. Chiang Mai is the second largest city.
The climate is tropical with rains brought with the southwest monsoon in mid May.
Environment
Forests cover over a quarter of the country and trees include teak, mangrove, rattan and palm.
Elephants are a symbol of Thailand; the white elephant being highly prized.
Architecture
Thailand has thousands of monasteries, temples and shrines. Bangkok, alone, has over four hundred Buddhist buildings.
Population
Thailand's population was estimated at 64,865,523 in July 2004. Seventy-five per cent of the population is Thai with
fourteen per cent Chinese. Thai hill-tribes include the Karen, Hmong and Lisu.
Languages
Thai is the official language. English is also used in business.
Religion
Ninety five per cent of the population is Buddhist with almost four per cent Muslim. There is still a following in the
animist religion that believes there is a spirit in everything.
Food
Thai cuisine is spicy using ingredients such as coriander, tumeric, mint, ginger, chilli pepper, garlic and coconut milk.
Seafood and shredded meat (often chicken) is eaten with rice or noodles.
Thailand has a variety of tropical fruit including the durian, jack fruit, bananas and mangoes which are served for
dessert. Fruit carving is an art form and is practised for special occasions.
The Thai population drink iced water, coffee and tea. Beer and a rice-based whisky are also drunk.