Nan River
Encyclopedia
The Nan River is a river in Thailand
. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River
.
The Nan River originates in Nan Province
. The provinces along the river after Nan Province are Uttaradit
, Phitsanulok
and Phichit. The Yom River
joins the Nan River at Chum Saeng district
, Nakhon Sawan Province
. When the Nan river joins together with the Ping River
at Pak Nam Pho within the town Nakhon Sawan
it becomes the Chao Phraya River
.The Nan river runs about 390 miles south.
, which joins the Nan within Amphoe Chum Saeng
in the Nakhon Sawan Province
. Other direct tributaries include the Butsabong
and Wang Pong
rivers of the lower Nan Basin, the Wat Ta Yom
and Wang Thong
Rivers which joint he Nan within Phichit Province, the Khwae Noi River
which joins the Nan within Phitsanulok Province
, the Tron
and Pat
Rivers, which join the Nan within Uttaradit Province
, the Wa
, Haet, Yao and Hao
Rivers, which Join the Nan within Nan Province
.
The expanse of the Nan River's tributaries, i.e. the Nan River System, together with the land upon which falling rain drains into these bodies of water, form the Greater Nan Basin
, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed
.
The total area drained by the Nan and its tributaries is 57,947 km².
Much of the lower basin has perfect soil for farming.
. Using this convention, and subtracting the 23,616 km² of land drained by the Yom
and its tributaries, the Nan basin drains a total of 34,331 km² of land in the provinces of Phitsanulok
, Phichit, Nan
and Uttaradit
.
tools unearthed near Phitsanulok
. However, these early hunter-gatherers are not likely to be ancestors of the Thai who presently inhabit the Nan basin. The human population around the Chao Phraya River
and its tributaries, such as the Nan, remained sparse until late in the region’s history. The settlement of the indigenous populations of the region began around the advent of rice agriculture during the bronze age
, and continued through the iron age
. Archaeologists suspect that Mon-Khmer speaking tribes spread through the region, bringing rice agriculture, metalworking, domestic animals. The main course of migration during the metal ages probably ran along the coast of Thailand, but migrants also travelled inland along the Chao Phraya to the Nan Basin and other areas, where it was relatively easier to establish settlements. The next major wave of migration into the Nan Basin came not from the coast along the Chao Phraya, but rather from the mountainous areas of northern Thailand. These migrants were the Tai
. Their course of immigration probably began south of the Yangzi River. As the Han Chinese
spread south of the Yangzi around the sixth century BC, the ancestors of the Thai retreated into the high valleys and, over many centuries, migrated west along an arc from the Guangxi
to the Brahmaputra Valley. The Thai brought rice-farming expertise to the mountainous areas of Northern Thailand, and eventually to the Nan Basin and the other lowland regions of Thailand. Some of the Nan River Mon-Khmer retreated into the hills as the Thai expansion continued, while others generally adopted dialects of the Tai language
and blended into the culture of the new settlers. The Tai language spoken in the area was heavily influenced by the Khmer culture as well, and evolved into the language we now call Thai
, which is considerably different from other Tai dialects. Even after this Thai migration, the population in the Nan Basin, other than along the banks of the Nan River and its major tributaries, was sparse. predator animal species, as well as malaria
, tropical temperatures and other hardships, kept the population from expanding far from the river, despite the region's extremely fertile soil. As the population grew during these ancient times, settlements along the Nan eventually became more urban, as populations of larger scale were better able to survive the hardships of the heavily forested region. The earliest urban developments along the Nan were modelled after the Mon-Khmer capital at Angkor
in Cambodia, which was already quite advanced by the time the Nan Basin had significant population to support urban settlement. Along with the positive effects of urbanization (e.g., development of art and specialization of labor), however, came slavery, war and other societal problems associated with urban culture in the forecoming city-state period. Even in spite of urbanization along the river banks, most of the Nan Basin (aside from the river-side settlements) consisted of virgin forests until around the turn of the 20th century. One of the early river-side urban areas of the Nan emerging during the era of the Khmer Empire
was Song Khwae, which over the years developed into the modern city of Phitsanulok
.
Phitsanulok
is the only place in Thailand where houseboats are legal, as they have been an important aspect of regional culture since long before the drafting of modern municipal law. People of Phitsanulok still gather on houseboats and raft houses along both sides of the Nan River in the city, and adhere to a traditional way of life. There is even a floating houseboat museum along the Nan in Phitsanulok, which allows tourists to experience the Nan houseboat culture first-hand.
, was constructed throughout the span of 1976 through 1985 on the Nan River in Phitsanulok Province
, north of the city of Phitsanulok, as part of the Phitsanulok Irrigation Project.
attributed primarily to the rapid increase of urban development in the provinces of Phitsanulok
, Phichit, Nan
and Uttaradit
.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. It is one of the most important tributaries of the Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
.
Geography
Nan Province
Nan is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Uttaradit, Phrae and Phayao. To the north and east it borders Sainyabuli of Laos.-Geography:...
. The provinces along the river after Nan Province are Uttaradit
Uttaradit Province
Uttaradit is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phrae and Nan...
, Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
and Phichit. The Yom River
Yom River
The Yom River is the dime main tributary of the Nan River . The Yom originates in Pong district, Phayao Province, Thailand...
joins the Nan River at Chum Saeng district
Amphoe Chum Saeng
Chum Saeng is a district in Nakhon Sawan Province, northern Thailand.-History:Chum Saeng is an old district of Nakhon Sawan. The government separated some part of Mueang district to establish Tambon Koei Chai. In 1903, the Interior ministry upgraded the tambon to be Amphoe Phan Lan, named after...
, Nakhon Sawan Province
Nakhon Sawan Province
Nakhon Sawan is one of the provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani and Tak.- Etymology :...
. When the Nan river joins together with the Ping River
Ping River
The Ping River , along with the Nan River, is one of the two main contributaries of Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Chiang Dao in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai Province. After passing Chiang Mai town, it flows though the provinces Lamphun, Tak, and Kamphaeng Phet...
at Pak Nam Pho within the town Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan
Nakhon Sawan is a city in Thailand, the name literally means "Heavenly City". The city is the capital of Nakhon Sawan Province, and covers the complete subdistrict Pak Nam Pho and parts of Khwae Yai, Nakhon Sawan Tok, Nakhon Sawan Ok and Wat Sai, all of Mueang Nakhon Sawan district...
it becomes the Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
.The Nan river runs about 390 miles south.
Tributaries
The chief tributary of the Nan is the Yom RiverYom River
The Yom River is the dime main tributary of the Nan River . The Yom originates in Pong district, Phayao Province, Thailand...
, which joins the Nan within Amphoe Chum Saeng
Amphoe Chum Saeng
Chum Saeng is a district in Nakhon Sawan Province, northern Thailand.-History:Chum Saeng is an old district of Nakhon Sawan. The government separated some part of Mueang district to establish Tambon Koei Chai. In 1903, the Interior ministry upgraded the tambon to be Amphoe Phan Lan, named after...
in the Nakhon Sawan Province
Nakhon Sawan Province
Nakhon Sawan is one of the provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani and Tak.- Etymology :...
. Other direct tributaries include the Butsabong
Butsabong River
The Butsabong River is a river of Thailand and part of the overall Chao Phraya River basin. It is a direct tributary of the Nan River in the lower Nan basin.-See also:*Tributaries of the Chao Phraya River...
and Wang Pong
Wang Pong River
The Wang Pong River is a river of Thailand and part of the overall Chao Phraya River basin. It is a direct tributary of the Nan River in the lower Nan basin.-See also:*Tributaries of the Chao Phraya River...
rivers of the lower Nan Basin, the Wat Ta Yom
Wat Ta Yom River
-Geography:This river of many names originates in the mountains of the Noen Maprang District of Phitsanulok Province where it is referred to as the Chomphu River ,...
and Wang Thong
Wang Thong River
The Wang Thong River is a river in Thailand. Its source lies in the Phetchabun Mountains in the Khao Kho District, Thailand.It flows through Thung Salaeng Luang National Park and forms Namtok Sri Dit and Namtok Kaeng Sopha in the Wang Thong District of Phitsanulok Province, and finally flows...
Rivers which joint he Nan within Phichit Province, the Khwae Noi River
Khwae Noi River, Phitsanulok
The Khwae Noi River is a river in northern Thailand. It shares the same name as another river in Thailand, the popular tourist attraction also known as "The River Kwai." These are two distinct bodies of water.-Etymology:...
which joins the Nan within Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
, the Tron
Tron River
The Tron River is a river of Thailand and part of the Chao Phraya River basin. It joins the Nan River in Uttaradit Province.-See also:*Tributaries of the Chao Phraya River...
and Pat
Pat River
The Pat River is a river of Thailand and part of the Chao Phraya River basin. It joins the Nan River in Uttaradit Province.-See also:*Tributaries of the Chao Phraya River...
Rivers, which join the Nan within Uttaradit Province
Uttaradit Province
Uttaradit is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phrae and Nan...
, the Wa
Wa River
The Wa River is a river of Thailand and part of the Chao Phraya River basin. It joins the Nan River in Nan Province.-See also:*Tributaries of the Chao Phraya River...
, Haet, Yao and Hao
Hao River
The Hao River is a river of Thailand and part of the Chao Phraya River basin. It joins the Nan River at Ban A Ham in Nan Province.An ancient castle moat in Nantong, China is also referred to as the Hao River.-See also:*Tributaries of the Chao Phraya River...
Rivers, which Join the Nan within Nan Province
Nan Province
Nan is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Uttaradit, Phrae and Phayao. To the north and east it borders Sainyabuli of Laos.-Geography:...
.
Greater Nan Basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, which is part of the Chao Phraya Watershed
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
.
The total area drained by the Nan and its tributaries is 57,947 km².
Much of the lower basin has perfect soil for farming.
Nan Basin
Most drainage analases, however, divide the Greater Nan Basin into the Nan Basin and the Yom BasinYom River
The Yom River is the dime main tributary of the Nan River . The Yom originates in Pong district, Phayao Province, Thailand...
. Using this convention, and subtracting the 23,616 km² of land drained by the Yom
Yom River
The Yom River is the dime main tributary of the Nan River . The Yom originates in Pong district, Phayao Province, Thailand...
and its tributaries, the Nan basin drains a total of 34,331 km² of land in the provinces of Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
, Phichit, Nan
Nan Province
Nan is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Uttaradit, Phrae and Phayao. To the north and east it borders Sainyabuli of Laos.-Geography:...
and Uttaradit
Uttaradit Province
Uttaradit is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phrae and Nan...
.
Early Civilizations
Ancient civilizations lived in the fertile land along the Nan River and its tributaries, as is evidenced by stone ageStone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
tools unearthed near Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
. However, these early hunter-gatherers are not likely to be ancestors of the Thai who presently inhabit the Nan basin. The human population around the Chao Phraya River
Chao Phraya River
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It runs through Bangkok, the capital city, and then empties into the Gulf of Thailand.-Etymology:...
and its tributaries, such as the Nan, remained sparse until late in the region’s history. The settlement of the indigenous populations of the region began around the advent of rice agriculture during the bronze age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, and continued through the iron age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
. Archaeologists suspect that Mon-Khmer speaking tribes spread through the region, bringing rice agriculture, metalworking, domestic animals. The main course of migration during the metal ages probably ran along the coast of Thailand, but migrants also travelled inland along the Chao Phraya to the Nan Basin and other areas, where it was relatively easier to establish settlements. The next major wave of migration into the Nan Basin came not from the coast along the Chao Phraya, but rather from the mountainous areas of northern Thailand. These migrants were the Tai
Tai peoples
The Tai ethnicity refers collectively to the ethnic groups of southern China and Southeast Asia, stretching from Hainan to eastern India and from southern Sichuan to Laos, Thailand, and parts of Vietnam, which speak languages in the Tai family and share similar traditions and festivals, including...
. Their course of immigration probably began south of the Yangzi River. As the Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
spread south of the Yangzi around the sixth century BC, the ancestors of the Thai retreated into the high valleys and, over many centuries, migrated west along an arc from the Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
to the Brahmaputra Valley. The Thai brought rice-farming expertise to the mountainous areas of Northern Thailand, and eventually to the Nan Basin and the other lowland regions of Thailand. Some of the Nan River Mon-Khmer retreated into the hills as the Thai expansion continued, while others generally adopted dialects of the Tai language
Tai languages
The Tai or Zhuang–Tai languages are a branch of the Tai–Kadai language family. The Tai languages include the most widely spoken of the Tai–Kadai languages, including standard Thai or Siamese, the national language of Thailand; Lao or Laotian, the national language of Laos; Burma's Shan language;...
and blended into the culture of the new settlers. The Tai language spoken in the area was heavily influenced by the Khmer culture as well, and evolved into the language we now call Thai
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
, which is considerably different from other Tai dialects. Even after this Thai migration, the population in the Nan Basin, other than along the banks of the Nan River and its major tributaries, was sparse. predator animal species, as well as malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
, tropical temperatures and other hardships, kept the population from expanding far from the river, despite the region's extremely fertile soil. As the population grew during these ancient times, settlements along the Nan eventually became more urban, as populations of larger scale were better able to survive the hardships of the heavily forested region. The earliest urban developments along the Nan were modelled after the Mon-Khmer capital at Angkor
Angkor
Angkor is a region of Cambodia that served as the seat of the Khmer Empire, which flourished from approximately the 9th to 15th centuries. The word Angkor is derived from the Sanskrit nagara , meaning "city"...
in Cambodia, which was already quite advanced by the time the Nan Basin had significant population to support urban settlement. Along with the positive effects of urbanization (e.g., development of art and specialization of labor), however, came slavery, war and other societal problems associated with urban culture in the forecoming city-state period. Even in spite of urbanization along the river banks, most of the Nan Basin (aside from the river-side settlements) consisted of virgin forests until around the turn of the 20th century. One of the early river-side urban areas of the Nan emerging during the era of the Khmer Empire
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
was Song Khwae, which over the years developed into the modern city of Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
.
Houseboats
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
is the only place in Thailand where houseboats are legal, as they have been an important aspect of regional culture since long before the drafting of modern municipal law. People of Phitsanulok still gather on houseboats and raft houses along both sides of the Nan River in the city, and adhere to a traditional way of life. There is even a floating houseboat museum along the Nan in Phitsanulok, which allows tourists to experience the Nan houseboat culture first-hand.
Naresuan Dam
The Naresuan Dam, named after King NaresuanNaresuan
Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat or Somdet Phra Sanphet II was the King of the Ayutthaya kingdom from 1590 until his death in 1605. Naresuan was one of Siam's most revered monarchs as he was known for his campaigns to free Siam from Burmese rule...
, was constructed throughout the span of 1976 through 1985 on the Nan River in Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
, north of the city of Phitsanulok, as part of the Phitsanulok Irrigation Project.
Pollution
Water quality in the Nan River is deteriorating from heavy bacterial contaminationBacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
attributed primarily to the rapid increase of urban development in the provinces of Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok Province
Phitsanulok is a provinces of Thailand, located in the north. Neighboring provinces are Loei, Phetchabun, Phichit, Kamphaeng Phet, Sukhothai, Uttaradit. In the north-east it also has a short border with Xaignabouli of Laos....
, Phichit, Nan
Nan Province
Nan is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Uttaradit, Phrae and Phayao. To the north and east it borders Sainyabuli of Laos.-Geography:...
and Uttaradit
Uttaradit Province
Uttaradit is one of the northern provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phitsanulok, Sukhothai, Phrae and Nan...
.