Ping River

Ping river
Ping River at Chiang Mai in October 2020.
Map of the Chao Phraya River drainage basin showing the Ping River
Location
CountryThailand
DistrictChiang Mai, Lamphun, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan
CitiesChiang Mai, Saraphi, San Sai, Kamphaeng Phet, Banphot Phisai
Physical characteristics
SourceKhun Ping
 • locationDoi Thuai, Chiang Mai
 • coordinates19°48′45″N 98°50′20″E / 19.81250°N 98.83889°E / 19.81250; 98.83889
 • elevation1,700 m (5,600 ft)
MouthChao Phraya River
 • location
Pak Nam Pho, Nakhon Sawan
 • coordinates
15°42′04″N 100°08′31″E / 15.701°N 100.142°E / 15.701; 100.142
 • elevation
25 m (82 ft)
Length658 km (409 mi)
Basin size
44,688 km2 (17,254 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • locationNakhon Sawan
 • average265 m3/s (9,400 cu ft/s)
 • maximum2,302 m3/s (81,300 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionChao Phraya → Gulf of Thailand
Tributaries 
 • leftNgad River, Kwuang River, Li River, Wang River
 • rightTaeng River, Chaem River

The Ping River (Thai: แม่น้ำปิง, romanized: Maenam Ping, pronounced [mɛ̂ː.náːm pīŋ]; Lanna: ᨶᩣᩴ᩶ᩯᨾ᩵ᨻᩥᨦ᩠ᨣ᩺, pronounced [nâːm mɛ̂ː pīŋ]) along with the Nan River, is one of the two main tributaries of the Chao Phraya River. It originates at Doi Thuai in the Daen Lao Range, in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province. After passing Chiang Mai, it flows through the provinces of Lamphun, Tak and Kamphaeng Phet. At the confluence with the Nan at Nakhon Sawan (also named Paknam Pho in Thai), it forms the Chao Phraya.

History

Evidence shows that habitation along the Ping River dates back to 1500 BCE. At that time it controlled trading routes between Yunnan and the Chao Phraya basin. Mangrai, a ruler from Ngoenyang, turned south to create an alternative "silk road" along the Ping River and captured Haripunchai in 1281. Following his successful conquest, he created Wiang Kum Kam as his capital before abandoning it following nearly a decade of floods, finally moving kilometres north to establish Chiang Mai as the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna in 1296.

In the 20th century, the Ping River became a part of Siam. Chinese and foreign investors came to area in search of lucrative teak and business transactions. Missionaries built Chiang Mai’s first church along the eastern bank of the river, an area set aside for foreign residents by the ruling government who occupied the safe, flood-free western banks. Land along the banks, including its islands, were repurposed, such as a small island in the river that was donated to American missionary James W. McKean in 1907 to become a leper colony. With no cure for leprosy until the 1980s, lepers found relief in their sanctuary from social criticism, many of whom remain at the McKean Rehabilitation Centre today.

Tributaries

Basin

The Ping basin is one of the largest drainage basins of the Chao Phraya Watershed, draining 33,896 square kilometres (13,087 mi2) of land. The greater Ping basin—the basin of the entire Ping river system including its tributary the Wang River—drains a total of 44,688 square kilometres (17,254 mi2). The main dams in the basin are the Bhumibol Dam and the Doi Tao Dam.

National parks

The Ping originates in Huai Nam Dang National Park and flows through Mae Ping National Park.

References

  1. ↑ "Chiang Dao National Park". Thai Forest Booking. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
  2. ↑ "Mae Ping River: Lifeline of Chiangmai Province". Chiangmai and Chiangrai Magazine. 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-11-29. Retrieved 2009-04-02.

19°30′N 98°58′E / 19.500°N 98.967°E / 19.500; 98.967