Kra Isthmus

The Kra Isthmus is the narrowest part of the Malay Peninsula in southern Thailand, located in Kra Buri District, Ranong Province. Stretching between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, it is only about 44 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. Notable for its geographic significance, low hills and river plains, it has long been considered for a canal project and offers scenic rural landscapes near the Myanmar border.

Visitors can expect a broad, low-lying geographic landscape marking the narrowest land bridge between the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. The area around Kra Buri features rural plains, the Kra Buri River forming the border with Myanmar, Tenasserim Hills in the distance, roadside viewpoints and markers indicating the narrowest point. There are no enclosed structures, but visitors can stop at viewpoints, take photos, and observe the natural terrain and river scenery.

The Kra Isthmus has been noted since the 17th century as a potential site for a canal to link the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand to shorten maritime routes. The proposed Kra Canal, also called the Thai Canal, has been surveyed and discussed in various periods but has not been constructed. The isthmus remains a significant geographic and strategic landmark in Thai history and geography.

The isthmus area is a rural border region along the Kra Buri River opposite Myanmar, inhabited by Thai communities engaged in agriculture and fishing. It serves as a geographic marker and educational site illustrating Thailand's natural geography and the cultural landscape of Ranong Province.