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44-477: Its beginning separates from Khlong Bangkok Yai in front of Wat Apson Sawan between Phasi Charoen and Thon Buri districts , where it is referred to as Khlong Dan ( Thai : คลองด่าน , pronounced [kʰlɔ̄ːŋ dàːn] ), then flows down south to meet Khlong Bang Khun Thian and Khlong Dao Khanong at Khlong Bang Khun Thian confluence in Chom Thong district and flows continuously south up till it meets

88-596: A fortress built in the King Nangklao (Rama III)'s reign at the mouth of the canal where it confluence with the Tha Chin river to prevent the invasion of Annamese from the case of Anuwong 's rebellion . 13°34′51″N 100°21′49″E  /  13.5809°N 100.3635°E  / 13.5809; 100.3635 Khlong Bangkok Yai Khlong Bangkok Yai ( Thai : คลองบางกอกใหญ่ , pronounced [kʰlɔ̄ːŋ bāːŋ.kɔ̀ːk jàj] ; lit: 'Big Bangkok Canal')

132-549: A major change from the 13th century during the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries and the Ayutthaya Kingdom that succeeded it when rice growing intensified with the introduction of floating rice , a much faster-growing strain of rice from Bengal . The southern swamps meanwhile changed radically from the 18th century when King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke moved the capital of Siam to Bangkok, and

176-646: A process of canalisation and cultivation began, especially as Thailand began to export rice from 1855. The Tha Chin River is the major distributary of the Chao Phraya River. The expanse of the Chao Phraya and Tha Chin Rivers and their distributaries, starting at the point at which the distributaries diverge, together with the land amid the triangle formed by the outermost and innermost distributary, form

220-532: 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

264-568: Is a canal that was excavated in the King Sanphet VIII 's reign during middle of the late Ayutthaya period to serve as a water transportation route instead of the more winding Khlong Khok Kham. The digging was completed in the year 1721 during the King Sanphet IX 's reign, with Dutch experts in charge of the excavation. Its name is also the origin of the name Mahachai , which is the informal name for Samut Sakhon province. In

308-420: Is a historic khlong (คลอง; canal) of Bangkok . The current length is 6 km (about 3 mi), through various canals as far as it terminates when it meets Khlong Mon near the confluence of three canals, Khlong Chak Phra , Khlong Mon and Khlong Bang Chueak Nang . In total, the canal passes through three districts, namely Bangkok Yai , Thon Buri and Phasi Charoen . The course of Khlong Bangkok Yai

352-491: Is at a single location that covers less than 10 km (4 sq mi). The endangered dwarf loach , another species bred in large numbers for the aquarium trade, has been extirpated from most of its range in Chao Phraya. The critically endangered Siamese tigerfish has been entirely exirpated from Chao Phraya and Mae Klong, but small populations remain in the Mekong basin. Many other species that either are prominent in

396-740: Is the major river in Thailand , with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand . On many old European maps, the river is named the Mae Nam (แม่น้ำ), the Thai word for "river" (literally, "motherly water"). Irish surveyor and cartographer James McCarthy , F.R.G.S. , who served as Director-General of the Siamese Government Surveys prior to establishment of

440-668: The Gulf of Thailand . In Chai Nat , the river then 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 mi) west of Bangkok in Samut Sakhon . In the low alluvial plain which begins below the Chao Phraya Dam , there are many small canals ( khlong ) which split off from the main river. The khlongs are used for

484-504: The IUCN ), but Cryptophaea saukra is critically endangered and Caliphaea angka is endangered . There are few areas of wetland protected as national parks, but these are mostly very small. The Chao Phraya basin is home to around 280 species of fish, including about 30 endemics . By far the most diverse family is Cyprinidae with 108 species. The mainstream of the Chao Phraya River has about 190 native fish species. In general,

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528-529: 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 augmented by minor tributaries referred to as khwae . All of 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

572-676: The Royal Thai Survey Department , wrote in his account, " Mae Nam is a generic term, mae signifying "mother" and Nam "water," and the epithet Chao P'ia signifies that it is the chief river in the kingdom of Siam." Herbert Warington Smyth , who served as Director of the Department of Mines in Siam from 1891 to 1896, refers to it in his book first published in 1898 as "the Mae Nam Chao Phraya". In

616-463: The water quality of major rivers flowing into the upper Gulf of Thailand has seriously deteriorated, and the lower Chao Phraya contains bacteria and nutrient pollution from phosphates , phosphorus , and nitrogen . Nutrient pollution causes algae to grow faster than ecosystems can handle, harming water quality, food resources for aquatic animals, and marine habitats. It also decreases the oxygen that fish need to survive. PCD rated water quality at

660-577: The Chao Phraya delta . The many distributaries of the Chao Phraya delta are interconnected by canals that serve both for irrigation and for transportation. 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 ecoregion , an area about 400 km (249 mi) north to south and 180 km (112 mi) wide. The original swamp forests have almost entirely been removed as

704-736: 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 . When measured from the most commonly accepted source, which is the confluence of the Ping and Nan River in Nakhon Sawan, the river measures 372 km (231 mi). However, when measured from

748-639: The Chao Phraya is a major transportation artery for a network of river buses, cross-river ferries, and water taxis ("longtails"). 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 ),

792-576: The English-language media in Thailand, the name Chao Phraya River is often translated as river of kings . On the basins of Chao Phraya River rose the earliest civilizations in the south east Asia, most notably the ancient Mon kingdom and the civilization of Dvaravati from the 7th century to the 11th century, the river played a crucial role in the Lavo kingdom that existed on its left bank in

836-713: The Tha Chin River in the area of Amphoe Mueang Samut Sakhon , Samut Sakhon Province. Its total length is about 30 km (19 mi). Sanam Chai is the name given to Bangkok portion of the canal, which is known as Mahachai in Samut Sakhon. For the Khlong Dan part, it is believed that it is a natural canal that has existed since the Ayutthaya period . In the part of the Khlong Sanam Chai or Khlong Mahachai

880-588: The Upper Chao Phraya valley, Chao Phraya maintained its role in the kingdoms that succeeded the Lavo kingdom, forming the bases of the Ayodhaya kingdom, that was later incorporated into the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 14th century, which itself was precursor of modern Thailand (known formerly as Siam), the river became very significant after the establishment of Rattanakosin (Bangkok) in 1782 on its east bank,

924-977: The aquarium trade or important food fish are native to the Chao Phraya basin, such as the climbing perch , blue panchax , Asian bumblebee catfish , giant snakehead , striped snakehead , walking catfish , banded loach , several Yasuhikotakia loaches, tinfoil barb , Siamese algae eater , silver barb , pearl danio , rainbow shark , Hampala barb , black sharkminnow , Leptobarbus rubripinna , long pectoral-fin minnow , bonylip barb , Jullien's golden carp , blackline rasbora , scissortail rasbora , Tor tambroides , finescale tigerfish , marble goby , Chinese algae eater , giant featherback , clown featherback , giant gourami , several Trichopodus gouramis, iridescent shark , several Pangasius , Belodontichthys truncatus , several Phalacronotus sheatfish, several Wallago catfish, largescale archerfish , smallscale archerfish , and wrestling halfbeak . The Thai Pollution Control Department (PCD) reports that

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968-620: The aquatic fauna of Chao Phraya and Mae Klong show clear similarities, and they are sometimes combined in a single ecoregion with 328 fish species. Despite their similarities, there are also differences between the aquatic fauna of Chao Phraya and Mae Klong; the latter (but not the former) is home to a few taxa otherwise only known in major Burmese rivers: the Irrawaddy , Salween , and Tenasserim . The aquatic fauna in Chao Phraya–Mae Klong also show clear similarities with that of

1012-419: 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. There are populations of threatened birds, including colonies of breeding water birds such as the world's largest populations of the near-threatened Asian openbill ( Anastomus oscitans ), and other birds such as

1056-432: The critically endangered giant barb (wild populations have been extirpated from Chao Phraya, but remain elsewhere), critically endangered giant pangasius , and endangered giant freshwater stingray . The critically endangered red-tailed black shark , a small colourful cyprinid that is endemic to Chao Phraya, is commonly seen in the aquarium trade where it is bred in large numbers, but the only remaining wild population

1100-473: The divide roughly corresponds to a long section of the political border of the country today. Southern portions of the divide's boundary correspond less to the nation's political border, because isolation in this area was prevented by the ease of transportation along the lowlands surrounding the Gulf of Thailand, allowing a unified Thai civilisation to extend beyond the watershed without issue. The slightly higher northern plains have been farmed for centuries and saw

1144-577: The early Rattanakosin period , it was also used as a route to move the Siamese army. "Kaem Ling Khlong Mahachai-Khlong Sanam Chai Project" is a royally-initiated project of the King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX). By constructing necessary regulators across the canals with pumping station, this "Kaem Ling" (monkey cheek) would work to collect and store flood water from upper area into Khlong Mahachai or Khlong Sanam Chai and drain out to

1188-480: The fish species known from the Chao Phraya–Mae Klong, only about 50 are absent from the Mekong. There has been extensive habitat destruction (pollution, dams , and drainage for irrigation ) in the Chao Phraya basin and overfishing also presents a problem. Within mainland Southeast Asia , the only freshwater region with similar high levels of threat is the lower Mekong. It has been estimated that only around 30 native fish species still are able to reproduce in

1232-489: The irrigation of the region's rice paddies. The rough coordinates of the river are 13 N, 100 E. This area has a wet monsoon climate, with over 1,400 millimetres (55 in) of rainfall per year. Temperatures range from 24 to 33 °C (75 to 91 °F) in Bangkok. The lower Chao Phraya underwent several human-made modifications during the Ayutthaya period. Several shortcut canals were constructed to bypass large loops in

1276-615: The location of Bangkok on the east bank of Chao Phraya River ensured protection to Siamese kingdom from the Burmese invasions coming from the West. 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 . After this, it flows south for 372 kilometres (231 mi) from the central plains to Bangkok and

1320-583: The longest source, which is the origin point of the Nan River in the Luang Prabang Range , the river measures 1,112 km (691 mi). The expanse of the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries, i.e., the Chao Phraya river system, together with the land upon which falling rain drains into these bodies of water, form the Chao Phraya watershed . The Chao Phraya watershed is the largest watershed in Thailand, covering approximately 35 percent of

1364-440: The mainstream of the Chao Phraya River. The catfish Platytropius siamensis is endemic to Chao Phraya and Bang Pakong , but has not been recorded since the 1970s and is considered extinct . Recent records of the near-endemic cyprinid Balantiocheilos ambusticauda are also lacking and it is possibly extinct. Three of the largest freshwater fish in the world are native to the river, but these are all seriously threatened:

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1408-549: The middle Mekong (the lower Mekong fauna more closely resembles that of the eastern Malay Peninsula ). It is believed that the upper Mekong was connected to Chao Phraya (rather than present-day lower Mekong) until the Quaternary , which explains the similarities in their river faunas. This included the Nan River basin, a tributary of the Chao Phraya, which is home to a number of taxa (for example, Ambastaia nigrolineata and Sectoria ) otherwise only known from Mekong. Of

1452-652: The most historically significant and densely populated settlements of Thailand due to their access to the waterway. Major bridges cross the Chao Phraya in Bangkok: the Rama VI railroad 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 , on the Industrial Ring Road. In Bangkok,

1496-513: The mouth of Chao Phraya at Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian District as "very poor", worse than in 2014, and their findings indicated large amounts of wastewater were discharged into the river from households, industry, and agriculture. In addition, 4,000 metric tons of plastic flows down the river into the Gulf of Thailand every year. To counter this, Thailand's Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) signed an agreement with The Ocean Cleanup organization to deploy an Interceptor Original, one of

1540-572: The much-hunted Schomburgk's deer . Today we can only guess at the original habitat and wildlife by comparing it with neighbouring countries. It is believed that the area 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. Today there is a small area of this remaining in Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park ,

1584-840: The names Khlong Bang Luang or Khlong Bang Kha Luang (คลองบางหลวง, คลองบางข้าหลวง; 'Canal of Nobles'). Khlong Bangkok Yai was also the first canal in Thailand to have lampposts installed. Khlong Bangkok Yai is now a waterway and drainage . It is also a major site of cultural tourism of Bangkok. There are many houses of worship on both sides, such as Wat Molilokayaram , Wat Hongratanaram , Wat Nuannoradit , Wat Kalayanamitr , Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen , Wat Kuhasawan , Bang Luang Mosque , Tonson Mosque , and Kudi Charoenphat , and also historic places such as Khlong Bang Luang Artist House , Talat Phlu or Wichai Prasit Fort . 13°46′45.3″N 100°27′46.6″E  /  13.779250°N 100.462944°E  / 13.779250; 100.462944 Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya River

1628-630: The nation's land, and draining an area of 157,924 square kilometres (60,975 sq mi). The watershed is divided into the following basins: To the west, the central plain of Thailand is drained by the Mae Klong and the east by the Bang Pakong River . They are not part of the Chao Praya system. The landscape of the river basins is a very wide, flat, well-watered plain continuously refreshed with soil and sediment brought down by

1672-472: The new canal, and the old course became what is known today as Khlong Bangkok Yai (lower section) and Khlong Bangkok Noi (upper section). In the reign of King Taksin (1767–82) of the Thonburi Kingdom , he founded the new capital, Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya River. The banks of Khlong Bangkok Yai became the residence of many people, including much of the nobility, giving rise to

1716-516: The plain has been converted to rice paddies, other agriculture, and urban areas like Bangkok. Much of the wildlife that once inhabited these plains has disappeared, including a large number of fish in the river systems, birds such as vultures, the Oriental darter ( Anhinga melanogaster ), white-eyed river martin ( Pseudochelidon sirintarae ), the sarus crane ( Grus antigone ) and animals such as tigers , Asian elephants , Javan rhinoceroses , and

1760-449: 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. Provinces along the Chao Phraya include, from north to south, Nakhon Sawan Province , Uthai Thani Province , Chai Nat Province , Sing Buri Province , Ang Thong Province , Ayutthaya Province , Pathum Thani Province , Nonthaburi Province , Bangkok , and Samut Prakan Province . These cities are among

1804-497: The rivers. The lower central plain from the delta north to Ang Thong Province is a flat, low area with an average of two metres above sea level. Further north and into the plains of the Ping and the Nan the elevation is over 20 m. Then the mountains that are the natural boundary of the Chao Praya watershed form a divide , which has, to some degree, historically isolated Thailand from other Southeast Asian civilisations. In northern Thailand

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1848-670: The sea via Khlong Mahachai, Khlong Khun Racha Pinitjai, and canals connecting Khlong Mahachai to the sea. This royal project was established to solve the problem of urban flooding . Covering a total area of 76.42 km (29.50 mi) of Bangkok and provinces of Samut Sakhon with Nakhon Pathom. Bordering historic temples the canal apart from Wat Apson Sawan include Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen , Wat Nang Chi , Wat Khun Chan, Wat Ratchaorot , Wat Nang , Wat Nangnong , Wat Sai and its floating market , Wat Sing, Wat Kamphaeng, Wat Kok, Wat Tha Kham, Wat Bang Kradi, Wat Hua Krabue, Wat Ban Rai Charoenpon, and Phan Thai Norasing Shrine, etc. Fort Wichien Chodok,

1892-440: The wintering black kite ( Milvus migrans ). Endemic mammals that remain are the limestone rat ( Niviventer hinpoon ), Neill's long-tailed giant rat ( Leopoldamys neilli ), and the near-endemic Thailand roundleaf bat ( Hipposideros halophyllus ). The Chao Phraya basin is home to about half a dozen endemic dragonflies and damselflies . The conservation status of most of these in unclear (they are rated as data deficient by

1936-563: Was originally a meandering part of the Chao Phraya River , which used to be longer than in the present day. Those who travel by boat must cruise along the river, which took more than one day. In the reign of King Chairachathirat (1534–46) of the Ayutthaya Kingdom , he ordered the construction of a canal bypassing a loop of the Chao Phraya River, known as Khlong Lat Bangkok (คลองลัดบางกอก; 'Bangkok Short-Cut Canal'), thus reducing travel times. The Chao Phraya then changed course along

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