The Gulf of Thailand, also known as the Gulf of Siam, is an inlet of the South China Sea and borders Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam. The western shores of the gulf border the Malay Peninsula, while the rest of the gulf borders mainland Southeast Asia.
Brief History and Background
The Gulf of Thailand contains three major Thai islands popular with tourists to the south—Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, and Ko Tao—and three islands popular with tourists to the north—Ko Samet, Ko Chang, and Ko Kut. The gulf boasts some of the best beaches and diving in the world. Most of the tourist destinations in the gulf are Thai, although many of the relatively untouched islands off of the southern coast of Cambodia are beginning to receive visitors. The gulf is quite shallow, with an average depth of 45 meters, and the deepest point only 80 meters.
Gulf of Thailand Organizations and Societies
References
Fast Facts
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Borders
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Altitude
Sea level
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Area
Length of coastline approximately 150 km; in some areas, the mudflats exposed at low tide extend up to two km from the shoreGulf of Thailand: Gulf of Thailand Area
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Mean depth
45 m
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Maximum depth
80 m
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Fact:
Bangkok is the leading port upstream from the mouth of the gulf
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Fact:
Relatively shallow and low in salinity and rich in sediments
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Fact:
Coral reefs abundant due to tropical warmth
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Fact:
Islands popular for diving tourism
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Fact:
Contains oil and natural gas resources
