Chao Phraya River in 2010, setting off from Tha Tien Ferry terminal, Bangkok, Thailand.
The Chao Phraya begins at the confluence of the Ping and Nan rivers at Nakhon Sawan ( also called Pak Nam Pho ) in Nakhon Sawan province. It then flows south for 372 kilometres ( 231 miles ) from the central plains to Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. In Chainat, the river splits into the main course and the Tha Chin river, which then flows parallel to the main river and exits in the Gulf of Thailand about 35 kilometres ( 22 miles ) west of Bangkok in Samut Sakhon. In the low alluvial plain which begins below the Chainat Dam, many small canals ( khlong ) split off from the main river. The khlong are used for the irrigation of the region's rice paddies.
The lower Chao Phraya has undergone several modifications through man-made efforts during the Ayutthaya period. Several shortcut canals were constructed to bypass large meanders in the river, shortening the trip from the capital city to the sea. The course of the river has since changed to follow many of these canals.
In 1538, Thailand's first River engineering of 3 km ( 2 miles ) long canal was built by the order of King Chairachathirat, and it was called khlong Lat or today known as Khlong Bangkok Noi. It claims to shortcut the route by 13-14 km, for the merchant ship travels from Gulf of Siam to its capital city - Ayutthaya.
In 1542, two kilometres long canal Khlong Lat Bangkok was completed or today called Khlong Bangkok Yai. It said to have shortened the river merchant route by 14 km ( 9 miles ).
In 1608, seven kilometres long Khlong Bang Phrao canal was completed and have shorten Chao Phraya original route by 18 km ( 11 miles ).
In 1636, Khlong Lat Mueang Nonthaburi was completed.
In 1722, two kilometres long Khlong Lat Kret Noi had shortcut the Chao Phraya by 7 km ( 4 miles ). This route was from the island of Koh Kret. It's also one of the Bangkok Metropolitan attractions.
Cities along the Chao Phraya include Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Samut Prakan, listed from north to south. These cities are among the most historically significant and densely populated settlements of Thailand because of their access to the waterway, with Bangkok alone having a population of over 12 million.
The major bridges that cross the Chao Phraya are in the province of Bangkok: the Rama VI rail-road bridge; Phra Pin-klao near the Grand Palace; Rama VIII, a single tower asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge; Rama IX, a semi-symmetric cable-stayed bridge; and Mega Bridge, part of the Industrial Ring Road. In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya is a major transportation artery for a vast network of river buses, cross-river ferries and water taxis, also known as long tails. More than 15 boat lines operate on the rivers and canals of the city, including commuter lines.
The principal tributaries of the Chao Phraya River are the Pa Sak River, the Sakae Krang River, the Nan River ( along with its principal confluent the Yom River ), the Ping River with its principal confluent the Wang River), and the Tha Chin River. Each of these tributaries ( and the Chao Phraya itself ) is further tributed by additional minor tributaries often referred to as khwae. All the tributaries, including the lesser khwae, form an extensive tree-like pattern, with branches flowing through nearly every province in central and northern Thailand. None of the tributaries of the Chao Phraya extend beyond the nation's borders. The Nan and the Yom River flow nearly parallel from Phitsanulok to Chumsaeng in the north of Nakhon Sawan province. The Wang River enters the Ping River near Sam Ngao district in Tak province.
The lowland areas of the Chao Phraya watershed in central Thailand have been designated as the Chao Phraya freshwater swamp forests, a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests eco region, an area about 400 km ( 249 miles ) north to south and 180 km ( 112 miles ) wide. The original swamp forests have almost entirely been removed as the plain has been converted to rice paddies, other agriculture, and urban areas like the massive Bangkok, and much of the wildlife that once inhabited these plains has disappeared including many fish in the river systems, birds such as vultures, the Oriental Darter, White-eyed River Martin ( Pseudochelidon sirintarae ) and the Sarus Crane[ and animals such as tigers, Asian elephants, Javan Rhinoceroses and the much-hunted Schomburgk's Deer. Today we can only estimate a description of the original habitat and wildlife by comparing with that of neighbouring countries and it is believed that it would have consisted of freshwater swamps inland and salty mangroves on the coast and the river estuaries. The swamp would have been covered in Phragmites marsh grasses and today there is a small area of this remaining in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, a relic of the original landscape.
As so much has been cleared or altered the potential for creating large protected areas to preserve original habitat no longer exists. However much wildlife does remain in the rice fields and steps may be taken to preserve these as urban and industrial development on the plains is ongoing and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand has very little control or planning over this. Particular threats come from the conversion of rice paddies to large-scale production of prawns by pumping in seawater, and the use of pesticides to eliminate the introduced snail Pomacea canaliculata, which damages rice plants.
Chao Phraya River in 2010, setting off from Tha Tien Ferry terminal, Bangkok, Thailand.
The Chao Phraya begins at the confluence of the Ping and Nan rivers at Nakhon Sawan ( also called Pak Nam Pho ) in Nakhon Sawan province. It then flows south for 372 kilometres ( 231 miles ) from the central plains to Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. In Chainat, the river splits into the main course and the Tha Chin river, which then flows parallel to the main river and exits in the Gulf of Thailand about 35 kilometres ( 22 miles ) west of Bangkok in Samut Sakhon. In the low alluvial plain which begins below the Chainat Dam, many small canals ( khlong ) split off from the main river. The khlong are used for the irrigation of the region's rice paddies.
The lower Chao Phraya has undergone several modifications through man-made efforts during the Ayutthaya period. Several shortcut canals were constructed to bypass large meanders in the river, shortening the trip from the capital city to the sea. The course of the river has since changed to follow many of these canals.
In 1538, Thailand's first River engineering of 3 km ( 2 miles ) long canal was built by the order of King Chairachathirat, and it was called khlong Lat or today known as Khlong Bangkok Noi. It claims to shortcut the route by 13-14 km, for the merchant ship travels from Gulf of Siam to its capital city - Ayutthaya.
In 1542, two kilometres long canal Khlong Lat Bangkok was completed or today called Khlong Bangkok Yai. It said to have shortened the river merchant route by 14 km ( 9 miles ).
In 1608, seven kilometres long Khlong Bang Phrao canal was completed and have shorten Chao Phraya original route by 18 km ( 11 miles ).
In 1636, Khlong Lat Mueang Nonthaburi was completed.
In 1722, two kilometres long Khlong Lat Kret Noi had shortcut the Chao Phraya by 7 km ( 4 miles ). This route was from the island of Koh Kret. It's also one of the Bangkok Metropolitan attractions.
Cities along the Chao Phraya include Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Singburi, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Bangkok and Samut Prakan, listed from north to south. These cities are among the most historically significant and densely populated settlements of Thailand because of their access to the waterway, with Bangkok alone having a population of over 12 million.
The major bridges that cross the Chao Phraya are in the province of Bangkok: the Rama VI rail-road bridge; Phra Pin-klao near the Grand Palace; Rama VIII, a single tower asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge; Rama IX, a semi-symmetric cable-stayed bridge; and Mega Bridge, part of the Industrial Ring Road. In Bangkok, the Chao Phraya is a major transportation artery for a vast network of river buses, cross-river ferries and water taxis, also known as long tails. More than 15 boat lines operate on the rivers and canals of the city, including commuter lines.
The principal tributaries of the Chao Phraya River are the Pa Sak River, the Sakae Krang River, the Nan River ( along with its principal confluent the Yom River ), the Ping River with its principal confluent the Wang River), and the Tha Chin River. Each of these tributaries ( and the Chao Phraya itself ) is further tributed by additional minor tributaries often referred to as khwae. All the tributaries, including the lesser khwae, form an extensive tree-like pattern, with branches flowing through nearly every province in central and northern Thailand. None of the tributaries of the Chao Phraya extend beyond the nation's borders. The Nan and the Yom River flow nearly parallel from Phitsanulok to Chumsaeng in the north of Nakhon Sawan province. The Wang River enters the Ping River near Sam Ngao district in Tak province.
The lowland areas of the Chao Phraya watershed in central Thailand have been designated as the Chao Phraya freshwater swamp forests, a tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests eco region, an area about 400 km ( 249 miles ) north to south and 180 km ( 112 miles ) wide. The original swamp forests have almost entirely been removed as the plain has been converted to rice paddies, other agriculture, and urban areas like the massive Bangkok, and much of the wildlife that once inhabited these plains has disappeared including many fish in the river systems, birds such as vultures, the Oriental Darter, White-eyed River Martin ( Pseudochelidon sirintarae ) and the Sarus Crane[ and animals such as tigers, Asian elephants, Javan Rhinoceroses and the much-hunted Schomburgk's Deer. Today we can only estimate a description of the original habitat and wildlife by comparing with that of neighbouring countries and it is believed that it would have consisted of freshwater swamps inland and salty mangroves on the coast and the river estuaries. The swamp would have been covered in Phragmites marsh grasses and today there is a small area of this remaining in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, a relic of the original landscape.
As so much has been cleared or altered the potential for creating large protected areas to preserve original habitat no longer exists. However much wildlife does remain in the rice fields and steps may be taken to preserve these as urban and industrial development on the plains is ongoing and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand has very little control or planning over this. Particular threats come from the conversion of rice paddies to large-scale production of prawns by pumping in seawater, and the use of pesticides to eliminate the introduced snail Pomacea canaliculata, which damages rice plants.