About Bangkok

City, South central Thailand, capital and principal city of the country, on the Chao Phraya R., near the Gulf of Thailand (Siam). The city incorporates Krung Thep, which is regarded as Bangkok proper, on the East bank of the river, and Thon Buri, which before 1971 was a separate city, on the river's West bank. Bangkok is a major commercial and transportation center of Southeast Asia. It is a railroad junction and a port, handling a high percentage of Thailand's total imports and exports. It is located in a rice-growing lowland plain, and rice milling is one of the traditional industries. Other industries include petroleum refining and the manufacture of transportation equipment, electrical and electronic goods, processed foods, textiles, cement, and jewelry. Also located in the city are the headquarters of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as well as other UN regional offices.

Bangkok is a city of numerous canals, and although some have been filled in to supply more roads for the city's growing number of motor vehicles, the floating market—the selling of produce from boats—still thrives. Another distinguishing feature of the city is the more than 400 richly decorated wats, or temples. The most magnificent of these is Wat Phra Kaeo (Chapel of the Emerald Buddha), located within the walls of the Grand Palace (both completed in 1785). Bangkok is a center of Thai culture and education and is the seat of six universities—including Chulalongkorn (1917), Thammasat (1934), and Silpakorn (1943) universities—and several technical institutes. The National Museum (1926) houses a large collection of Thai archaeology and art. Bangkok was founded in 1782 when Chakri (1737–1809), on assuming the throne of Siam as Rama I, moved the capital from Thon Buri on the W bank of the river where it had been since 1767. The city was named Krung Thep (City of Angels) and was planned around a network of canals so as to resemble the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. During World War II the city was occupied (1941–45) by the Japanese and was as a result subjected to Allied bombing in 1944 and 1945. Pop. (1991 est., greater city) 5,620,590.

This is a 100% unmodified article from Funk & Wagnalls® New Encyclopedia. ©2005 World Almanac Education Group. A WRC Media Company. All rights reserved. Please follow the link for original aricle.