A large part (69.31 %) of Chiang Mai's land is covered by
mountains and forests. These generally run in a north-south
pattern through the province and give birth to several streams
and tributaries (such as the Mae Jam, Mae Ngud, and Mae Klang)
which in turn feed important rivers and irrigation canals (such
as the Muang and Faay) which provide the water necessary to
Chiang Mai's agriculture. Chiang Mai's largest and most important
river is the Ping, which originates in the mountains of Chiang
Dao and flows southward for 540 kilometers (337.5 miles). It
is along the banks of this river that Chiang Mai's flat, fertile
valley atea lies.
Chiang Mai is also home to Inthanon Mountain, which stands 2,575 meters
(8,448 feet) above sea level and is Thailand's highest mountain. |
 With
a population of 1,547,085 Chiang Mai is one of Thailand's largest
provinces. Of the above number, 170,348 are currently living
in Chiang Mai's city area with the rest distributed throughout
Chiang Mai's 21 districts, 2 sub-districts. 80% of the people
in Chiang Mai are locals by birth, and speak a sialext that
is a slight variation of the central Thai language. The remaining
20% is made up of Thai nationals and foreigners who have moved
to Chiang Mai to work, study, or retire.
There are many hilltribe people living in
the mountainous districts surrounding Chiang Mai such as
Omkoi, Mae Jam, Chiang Dao, and Mae Ai. Statistics reported
by the Tribal Research Institute of Chiang Mai stated that
in the year 1992 there were 1,049 hilltribe villages in the
Chiang Mai province, constituting a total of 174,195 people.
Of this amount, 106,116 were from the Karen tribe, 27,392
from the Lahu (Musur) tribe, 17,198 from the Hmong (Meo)
tribe, 10,873 form the Lisu tribe, 8,862 from the Lua tribe,
2,609 from the Akha tribe, 1,145 from the Mien (yao) tribe,
and 485 from the Palong tribe. The hilltribe people are agricultural;
planting fields, raising animals, and hunting for a living.
Since each tribe has its own culture and language, they blanket
the hills of Chiang Mai with an interesting patchwork quilt
of diverse variety.
The majority (80%) of the Chiang Mai people
earn a living through agriculture and agricultural related
professions. The second largest vocation is tourism and its
directly and indirectly related jobs. General commerce and
industry-mainly in the form of handicrafts, and of processing
agricultural products-are the two other major professions
in which the Chiang Mai people are involved. |
