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Tenasserim Hills

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

The Tenasserim Hills are a huge chain of mountains in Southeast Asia.

Kapong01
Kapong01

This mountain range is about 1,700 km long. It forms a natural border between Thailand and Myanmar.

1850 Perrot Map of Indo-Chine - Geographicus - Indochine-perrot-1825
1850 Perrot Map of Indo-Chine - Geographicus - Indochine-perrot-1825

In the north, the hills meet the Dawna Range. As the mountains move south, they run along the Kra Isthmus. Eventually, the range reaches the Malay Peninsula. It stretches almost all the way to Singapore. This long ridge is part of a much older system. It is made of granite and is even older than the Himalayas.

Many rivers begin their journey in these mountains.

Ratchaburi-limestone84
Ratchaburi-limestone84

Some rivers flow west into the Andaman Sea. These include the Ye and the Dawei rivers. Other rivers flow east toward the Gulf of Thailand. The Khwae Yai and Khwae Noi rivers cross the range in Thailand. In the south, the mountains divide into separate ridges. These ridges create gaps between the peaks. The mountains act as a barrier for travelers. There are only two main roads that cross between Thailand and Myanmar. These paths are at the Three Pagodas Pass and Mae Sot.

History shows that people have traveled through these hills for a long time. In 1759, Burmese troops crossed the hills during a war. Later, in 1942, Japanese soldiers marched through these forests.

Tectonics Sumatra quake
Tectonics Sumatra quake

They had to walk through thick woods and over steep cliffs. During World War II, workers built a famous railway here. It was known as the "Death Railway." This was a very hard job for the many people involved. The work was done in remote places with few tools. Many people suffered from hunger and sickness while building it.

There are many interesting facts about the peaks and names here.

Unnamed Lesser Peak, Gunung Tahan. Snapped from Kem Botak
Unnamed Lesser Peak, Gunung Tahan. Snapped from Kem Botak

The highest point in the whole range is Mount Tahan. It is 2,187 m high. In the northern part, Myinmoletkat Taung is a very tall peak at 2,072 m. The name "Tenasserim" comes from the Tenasserim Region in Burma. In Malay, the name might mean "glowing land." The mountains also have many different sections. Some parts are called the Phuket Range or the Nakhon Si Thammarat Range. These names help people understand different parts of the long chain.

The hills are covered in thick, tropical forests.

KhaoSok04
KhaoSok04

The western slopes are very green because they get lots of monsoon rain. Many rare animals live in these woods. You might find an Asian elephant or a tiger there. The Gurney's pitta is a special bird that lives here. Some people have even seen the Sumatran rhinoceros in the north. To keep these animals safe, many national parks have been made. These include Kaeng Krachan in Thailand and Endau-Rompin in Malaysia. These parks help protect the many living things in the hills.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:KhaoSok04.jpg
KhaoSok04.jpg
File:Unnamed Lesser Peak, Gunung Tahan. Snapped from Kem Botak.jpg
Unnamed Lesser Peak, Gunung Tahan....
File:Ratchaburi-limestone84.jpg
Ratchaburi-limestone84.jpg
File:Kapong01.jpg
Kapong01.jpg
File:Khao Nom Nang-Erawan NP41.JPG
Khao Nom Nang-Erawan NP41.JPG
File:Tectonics Sumatra quake.gif
Tectonics Sumatra quake.gif
File:1850 Perrot Map of Indo-Chine - Geographicus - Indochine-perrot-1825.jpg
1850 Perrot Map of Indo-Chine -...
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