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Gulf of Thailand Facts

Gulf of Thailand Facts
The Gulf of Thailand is located in the western region of the South China Sea. It is a shallow inlet and considered to be a marginal water body of the Pacific Ocean. The Gulf of Thailand was once known as the Gulf of Siam. The Gulf of Thailand is bordered by Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. It is approximately 497 miles long and as wide as 348 miles in some spots. The Gulf of Thailand covers an area of 123,553 square miles. Its maximum depth is 279 feet and its average depth is 190 feet. In Thai the Gulf of Thailand is called Ao Thai (Thai Gulf).
Interesting Gulf of Thailand Facts:
The northern tip of the Gulf of Thailand is referred to as the Bay of Bangkok. This is also the Chao Phraya River's mouth.
The Gulf of Thailand is low in salinity because it is shallow and has a strong inflow of water from the Chao Phraya River and the water exchange with the South China Sea is slow.
The major rivers that inflow to the Gulf of Thailand include the Chao Phraya River, the Tha Chin River, the Mae Klong River, the Bang Pakong River, and the Tapi River.
The Gulf of Thailand is a popular destination for tourists because of its warm tropical waters and coral reefs and beaches.
Popular tourist destinations in the Gulf of Thailand include Koh Samui Island, Koh Pha Ngan Island, Pattaya, Cha-am, Hua Hin, Ko Samet, and Ko Chang.
Some of the most famous and popular beaches along the Gulf of Thailand include Silavadee Beach in Koh Samui, Ao Phrao Beach in Koh Kood, Lamai Beach in Koh Samui, Thong Nai Pan Noi Beach in Koh Pha Ngan, and Srikantang Beach near Koh Pha Ngan.
Bays in the Gulf of Thailand along the Thailand coast include the Bay of Bangkok, Prachuap Bay, Ao Manao, and Sattahip Bay.
Bays in the Gulf of Thailand along the Cambodian coast include the Bay of Kompong Som, Veal Rinh Bay, Kep Bay, and Chhak Koh Kong Bay.
Bays in the Gulf of Thailand along the Vietnam coast include Vinh Tuan Ven, Vinh Ba Hon, and Vinh Hon Chong.
Some of the largest islands in the Gulf of Thailand include Ko Samui, Ko Khram, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao, Ko Samae San, and Koh Kong.
Marine life that can be found in the Gulf of Thailand includes banded sea snakes, longfinned banner fish, batfish, hawksbill turtles, porcupine fish, trigger fish, jellyfish, whale sharks, hermit crabs, giant grouper, white eyed moray eels, seahorses, yellowtail barracudas, sea cucumbers, and blue spotted stingrays, among many other species.
In the Gulf of Thailand there are a total of 75,590 rai of coral reef. (1 rai equals 1,600 square meters).
The Gulf of Thailand is becoming popular for whale watching. Some of the whales that can be seen in the gulf include Omura's whales and Eden's whales. Irrawaddy dolphins and Chinese white dolphins can also be found in the waters of the Gulf of Thailand.


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