Narathiwat is one of
five southern provinces that border Malaysia. The economic and
border tourism centre is at Amphoe Su-ngai Kolok where Malaysians
and Singaporeans like to spend their holiday and shop. The area has
a constant flow of culture and trading.
The majority of the population is
Muslims, with the Yawi language used in speaking and writing (Yawi
has roots from the spoken Malay language and uses consonants and
alphabets of the Arabic language).
Narathiwat has a total area of 4,475
square kilometres. It is on the eastern coast of the Malay
Peninsula. The north borders Pattani and the Gulf of Thailand, the
west borders Yala, the east borders the Gulf of Thailand, and the
south borders Kelantan in Malaysia. Most of the area is jungles and
mountains. The plains where 4 rivers converge are adjacent to the
gulf. The rivers are Sai Buri, Bang Nara, Tak Bai, and Su-ngai
Kolok. Narathiwat has a tropical climate and has only 2 seasons;
summer and rainy. The wettest period is during November to December.
