Editing Gulf of Thailand

{{Short description|Shallow inlet in the South China Sea}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Gulf of Thailand
| other_name         = {{hlist|{{lang|km|ឈូងសមុទ្រសៀម}}|{{lang|th|อ่าวไทย}}|{{nowrap|{{lang|vi|Vịnh Thái Lan}}}}}}
| image              = Gulf of Thailand.svg
| caption            = Location of the Gulf of Thailand
| image_bathymetry   = 
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location           = [[Southeast Asia]]
| coords             = {{Coord|09|30|N|102|00|E|type:waterbody_scale:5000000|display=title,inline}}
| type               = Gulf
| inflow             = [[South China Sea]]
| outflow            = 
| catchment          = 
| basin_countries    = {{hlist|[[Cambodia]]|[[Thailand]]|[[Vietnam]]|[[Malaysia]]}}
| length             = 
| area               = {{convert|320000|km2|abbr=on}}
| depth              = {{convert|58|m|abbr=on}}
| max-depth          = {{convert|85|m|abbr=on}}
}}
The '''Gulf of Thailand''' ({{langx|th|อ่าวไทย}}), historically known as the '''Gulf of Siam''' ({{langx|th|อ่าวสยาม}}), is a shallow inlet<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marineregions.org/gazetteer.php?p=browser&id=4331#ct |title=Marine Gazetteer browser |publisher=Marineregions org |access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/thailand-gulf-of |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030160533/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/Thailand-Gulf-of |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |title=Thailand, Gulf of | publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> adjacent to southeast of [[South China Sea]], bounded between the southwestern shores of the [[Indochinese Peninsula]] and the northern half of the [[Malay Peninsula]].  It is around {{convert|800|km|abbr=on}} in length and up to {{convert|560|km|abbr=on}} in width, and has a surface area of {{convert|320,000|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marineregions.org/gazetteer.php?p=details&id=4334 |title=Marine Gazetteer Placedetails - Gulf of Thailand |publisher=Marineregions org |access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.deepseawaters.com/Gulf_of_Thailand.htm |title=Gulf of Thailand |publisher=Deepseawaters.com |access-date=June 7, 2016}}</ref>  The gulf is surrounded on the north, west and southwest by the coastlines of [[Thailand]] (hence the name), on the northeast by [[Cambodia]] and the [[Mekong Delta]] region of [[Vietnam]], and opens to the South China Sea in the southeast.

==Names==
The modern [[Thai language|Thai]] name of the gulf is ''Ao Thai'' ({{langx|th|อ่าวไทย}}, {{IPA|th|ʔàːw tʰāj||Th-Gulf_of_Thailand.ogg}}, 'Thai Gulf') and "Gulf of Thailand" has been adopted as the official name of the body by the [[International Hydrographic Organization]].<ref name=iho/>{{when|date=March 2015}} Its name in [[Malay language|Malay]] is "Gulf of Siam", ''Teluk Siam'' or in [[Jawi script]]: {{lang|ms|{{Script/Arabic|تلوق سيم}}}}, and in  {{langx|km| ឈូងសមុទ្រសៀម}}'', Chhoung Samut Siem''. In Thai, the gulf is historically known as ''Ao Sayam'' ({{langx|th|อ่าวสยาม}}).<ref>{{cite journal | script-title=th:ระยะทางเสด็จฯ ประพาสชายทะเลอ่าวสยาม พ.ศ. 2470 |trans-title=A report on the royal travel through the Gulf of Siam, 1927| url = http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2470/D/513_2.PDF | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140308161818/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2470/D/513_2.PDF | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 8, 2014 | journal= [[Royal Thai Government Gazette]] | issue = D | volume = 88 | date = 1927-05-22 | page = 44 | access-date = 2014-03-08 | language = th }}</ref>  In [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] it is known as ''Vịnh Thái Lan''.

It is generally identified with the [[Magnus Sinus|Great Gulf]] ({{langx|la|Magnus Sinus}}) known to [[Greek geographers|Greek]], [[Roman geographers|Roman]], [[medieval Arab geographers|Arab]], [[medieval Persian geographers|Persian]], and [[Renaissance cartographers]] before [[Age of Discovery|the influx]] of [[Portuguese explorers]] removed the phantom [[Dragon Tail (peninsula)|Dragon Tail peninsula]] from European world maps in the 16th century.

== Etymology ==
[[File:Gulf of Siam Map (Thailand) 1867 RGS.jpg|thumb|Gulf of Siam map in 1867]]
The '''Gulf of Thailand''', historically known as the '''Gulf of Siam''', derives its name from the historical kingdom of [[Siam]], the former name of modern-day Thailand. The term "Gulf of Siam" was widely used in Western [[cartography]] and geographical references up until the mid-20th century, reflecting the [[Colonialism|colonial-era]] practice of naming regions based on the prevalent local political entities at the time.

"Siam" itself is an [[Endonym and exonym|exonym]], believed to have origins in the [[Sanskrit]] word "Syama," which means "dark" or "brown," referring to the skin tone of the region's inhabitants. The term "Siam" was used internationally until 1939, when the country officially changed its name to Thailand. Following this renaming, "Gulf of Thailand" gradually became the more commonly used term, especially in official contexts, although "Gulf of Siam" is still occasionally used.

==Geography==
[[File:LocationGulfOfThailand.png|thumb|right|Map showing the location of the gulf]]

The Gulf of Thailand is bordered by [[Cambodia]], [[Thailand]], [[Malaysia]], and [[Vietnam]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Map of Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Thailand Location Facts, Major Bodies of Water, South China Sea |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/gulfofthailand.htm |website=World Atlas |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gulf of Thailand |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Gulf-of-Thailand |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> It occupies a seabed area of 304,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> from 6° N to 13°30' N latitude and 99°E to 104° E longitude.<ref name=Worldfish>{{cite web |last1=Khongchai |first1=Narongsak |last2=Vibunpant |first2=Somchai |last3=Eiamsa-ard |first3=Monton |last4=Supongpan |first4=Mala |title=Preliminary Analysis of Demersal Fish Assemblages in Coastal Waters of the Gulf of Thailand |url=http://pubs.worldfishcenter.org/resource_centre/AMF_Chapter-12-FA.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219173027/http://pubs.worldfishcenter.org/resource_centre/AMF_Chapter-12-FA.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 February 2015 |website=Worldfish |access-date=19 Feb 2015 }}</ref>{{rp|250}} The northern tip of the gulf is the [[Bay of Bangkok]] at the mouth of the [[Chao Phraya River]]. The southern boundary of the gulf is defined by a line from [[Cape Bai Bung]] in southern Vietnam (just south of the mouth of the [[Mekong River]]) to the town of [[Tumpat District|Tumpat]] and [[Pengkalan Chepa]] on the Malaysian coast.

The gulf is relatively shallow: its mean depth is {{convert|58|m|ft}} and the maximum depth is only {{convert|85|m|ft}}.<ref name=Worldfish />{{rp|250}} This makes water exchange slow, and the strong water inflow from the rivers reduces the level of [[salinity]] in the gulf (3.05–3.25 percent) and enriches the [[sediment]]s. Only at greater depths does water with a higher salinity (3.4 percent) flow into the gulf from the [[South China Sea]]. It fills the central depression below a depth of {{convert|50|m|ft}}. The main rivers which empty into the gulf are the Chao Phraya, including its distributary [[Tha Chin River]], the [[Mae Klong]], and [[Bang Pakong River|Bang Pakong]] rivers at the [[Bay of Bangkok]], and to a lesser degree the [[Tapi River, Thailand|Tapi River]] flowing into [[Bandon Bay]] in the southwest of the gulf.

The [[International Hydrographic Organization]] defines the southern limit of the gulf as "[a] line running from the Western extreme of [[Cambodia]] or [[Cape Cà Mau|Camau Point]] (8°36'N) to the Northern extreme of the point on the East side of the estuary of the [[Kelantan River]] ({{Coord|6|14|N|102|15|E}})".<ref name=iho>{{cite web |url=https://iho.int/uploads/user/pubs/standards/s-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |title=Limits of Oceans and Seas |edition=3 |year=1953 |publisher=International Hydrographic Organization |page=23 |access-date=28 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008191433/http://www.iho.int/iho_pubs/standard/S-23/S-23_Ed3_1953_EN.pdf |archive-date=8 October 2011 }}</ref>

===Seabed morphology===
The seabed morphology in the central depression of the gulf is characterised by the presence of elongated mounds and ridges arranged parallel to the axis of the [[Oceanic basin|basin]]. This morphology, widespread within the gulf in water depths exceeding 50 m, covers an area of tens of thousands of square kilometres.

It reflects an interaction between [[sediment]] dewatering and the [[Hydraulic action|erosional activity]] of the present-day [[Ocean current|bottom currents]].<ref name=Puchala/> The [[sediment]] dewatering and fluid seepage result in the formation of numerous small pits and [[Pockmark (geology)|pockmarks]]. The long-term [[Hydraulic action|erosion]] imposed by [[Ocean current|currents]] of stable orientation modifies [[Pockmark (geology)|pockmarks]] into long runnels and depressions, and ultimately leads to the formation of the large fields of elongated mounds and ridges, as well as the residual outliers of un-eroded mud and clay sheets.<ref name=Puchala>{{Citation |last1=Puchala |first1=R. |title=Morphology and origin of modern seabed features in the central basin of the Gulf of Thailand |date=2014 |doi=10.13140/RG.2.1.3891.0808}}</ref>

===Bays===
;Thailand
* [[Bay of Bangkok]]
* [[Prachuap Bay]]
* [[Ao Manao]]
* [[Sattahip Bay]]
* [[Bandon Bay]]

;Cambodia
* [[Bay of Kompong Som]] (Chhak Kompong Som)
* Veal Rinh Bay
* Kep Bay
* Chhak Koh Kong

;Vietnam
* Vinh Thuan Yen
* Vinh Ba Hon
* Vinh Hon Chong

===Islands===
{{See also|List of islands of Thailand|List of islands of Cambodia|List of islands of Vietnam}}
The larger islands in the gulf include:
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Ko Chang]]
* [[Ko Mak]]
* [[Ko Kut]]
* [[Ko Samui]]
* [[Ko Pha Ngan]]
* [[Ko Tao]]
* [[Ko Phaluai]]
* [[Ko Sichang]]
* [[Ko Lan]]
* [[Ko Phai]]
* [[Ko Khram]]
* [[Ko Samae San]]
* [[Ko Samet]]
* [[Ko Rang, Ko Chang|Ko Rang]]
* [[Ko Khangkhao]]
* [[Ko Man Nok]]
* [[Ko Wai]]
* [[Ko Phi]]
* [[Ko Kham]]
* [[Ko Sai]]
* [[Ko Kra]]
* [[Ko Losin]]
* [[Phú Quốc]]
* [[Thổ Chu Islands]]
* [[Hà Tiên Islands]]
* [[Bà Lụa Islands]]
* [[Nam Du Islands]]
* [[Koh Kong (island)|Koh Kong]]
* [[Koh Rong]]
* [[Koh Sdach]]
* [[Koh Rong Sanloem]]
* [[Koh Puos]]
* [[Koh Dek Koul]]
* [[Koh Russei]]
* [[Koh Ta Kiev]]
* [[Koh Preab]]
* [[Koh Thmei]]
* [[Koh Seh]]
* [[Koh Ach Seh]]
* [[Koh Tonsay]]
* [[Koh Tang]]
* [[Koh Pring]]
* [[Koh Poulo Wai]]
{{div col end}}

== History ==
[[File:Map of Sunda and Sahul.svg|thumb|The map shows the probable extent of land and water at the time of the [[Last Glacial Maximum]], 20,000 years ago and when the [[Past sea level|sea level]] was likely more than 110 meters lower]]
During the [[Last Glacial Maximum]] (26,000-20,000 years ago) the 3-4 km thick [[Ice sheet|ice sheets]] in the [[Northern Hemisphere|Northern hemisphere]] lowered the global [[Sea level rise|sea level]] by about 120 meters. The climate was -6 Celsius colder in Thailand. There was no [[seawater]] in the Gulf of Thailand since the sea-level was below the max depth of 85 meters. There was a [[Lake|great lake]] filled with [[fresh water]] from rivers and rain. The [[Mainland Southeast Asia|Mainland]] was connected by land with the former islands of [[Western Indonesia]] in [[Maritime Southeast Asia]]. The landmass [[Sundaland]] existed until circa 15000 years ago.

==Environment==
[[File:Koh Mak (island), Thailand, Tropical lagoon, Turquoise colors.jpg|thumb|250px|Shallow waters of the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Ko Mak]]

===Coral reefs===
There are 75,590 [[rai (area)|rai]] of coral reef in the gulf, of which five percent are considered to be in fertile condition. In 2010 severe coral bleaching occurred at most reef sites in the country. Bleaching of reefs in the Andaman Sea was more severe and extensive than that in the Gulf of Thailand.<ref name=GP-2012/> In 2016, [[coral bleaching]] was detected at Ko Thalu and Ko Lueam in [[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wipatayotin |first1=Apinya |title=Rising sea temps bring coral bleaching to Gulf |url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/919989/rising-sea-temps-bring-coral-bleaching-to-gulf |access-date=4 April 2016 |work=Bangkok Post |date=2016-04-04}}</ref> Scientists have determined that bleaching starts when seawater temperature rises beyond 30&nbsp;°C for more than three weeks. Given the prolonged period of temperatures up to 32&nbsp;°C at Ko Thalu in Prachuap Khiri Khan, five to ten percent of corals in the area are already bleached.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rujivanarom |first1=Pratch |title=More coral reefs damaged by mass bleaching |url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/national/30346501 |access-date=2 June 2018 |work=The Nation |date=2018-05-29 |archive-date=2022-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815200516/https://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30346501 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Water quality===
Coastal water monitoring results in 2015 from 202 sampling locations, collected twice annually, indicate that no Thai coastal waters were found to be in excellent condition. Sixteen percent of coastal water was of good quality, 72 percent was of fair quality, 9 percent was of poor quality and 3 percent was of very poor quality. The quality of all coastal waters exhibited similar percentages — most were of fair quality — except for the Inner Gulf of Thailand, where the coastal water was poor to very poor. In comparison to coastal water quality as measured in 2014, water quality has deteriorated.<ref name="PCD-AR2015">{{cite book|title=Thailand State of Pollution Report 2015|date=2016|publisher=Pollution Control Department, [[Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Thailand)]]|location=Bangkok|isbn=978-616-316-327-1|url=http://infofile.pcd.go.th/mgt/PollutionReport2015_en.pdf|access-date=5 September 2017|archive-date=5 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905191033/http://infofile.pcd.go.th/mgt/PollutionReport2015_en.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{RP|52}} Some gulf waters off [[Chachoengsao Province]], [[Samut Sakhon Province]], [[Samut Prakan Province]], Bangkok, [[Rayong Province]], [[Chonburi Province]], [[Phetchaburi Province]], [[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province]], and [[Surat Thani Province]] were judged to have coastal waters in "poor" or "very poor" condition.<ref name="PCD-AR2015"/>{{RP|54}} [[Songkhla Province|Songkhla]] was the only province on the gulf with coastal water rated "good" quality.<ref name="PCD-AR2015"/>{{RP|56}}

===Fisheries===
Of Thailand's total marine catch, 41 percent is caught in the Gulf of Thailand and 19 percent in the [[Andaman Sea]]. Forty percent is caught in waters outside Thailand's [[EEZ]].<ref name=GP-2012>{{cite book|title=Oceans in the Balance, Thailand in Focus|date=c. 2012|publisher=Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Thailand)|location=Bangkok|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/PageFiles/536808/english-singlePages.pdf|access-date=11 July 2017|archive-date=22 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922104018/http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/PageFiles/536808/english-singlePages.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Coastal erosion===
Thailand has 1,660 kilometres of coastline bordering the gulf. "Severe erosion", more than five metres of coastline loss per year, afflicts 670 kilometres of that total. At least some of the erosion is attributable to the clearing of mangrove forests to make way for shrimp farms.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wipatayotin|first1=Apinya|title=Shoring up defences|url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/1375907/shoring-up-defences|access-date=10 December 2017|work=Bangkok Post Spectrum|volume=10|number=50|date=10 December 2017}}</ref>

===Plastic pollution===
In February 2017, a 10 kilometer-long patch of plastic refuse was found floating off [[Chumphon Province]].<ref name="Nation-20180506">{{cite news|last1=Wonggruang|first1=Piyaporn|title=SPECIAL REPORT: Alarm raised as Thailand drowns in plastic trash|url=https://www.nationthailand.com/detail/national/30344702|access-date=6 May 2018|work=The Nation|date=6 May 2018|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528004814/https://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30344702|url-status=live}}</ref> Thailand is among the world's worst plastic polluters. More than half of "land-based [[plastic pollution|plastic waste]] leakage" into the sea originates from just five countries: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.<ref name="OC-2015">{{cite book|title=Stemming the Tide: Land-based strategies for a plastic- free ocean|date=September 2015|publisher=Ocean Conservancy-McKinsey Center for Business and Environment|page=3|url=https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/full-report-stemming-the.pdf|access-date=6 May 2018}}</ref>

The Thai Marine and Coastal Resources Department has noted that at least 300 sea animals on average—60 per cent of which are whales and dolphins—die from eating plastic fishing gear and trash each year.<ref name="Nation-20180506"/> [[Filter feeder|Filter feeding]] invertebrates tested off the coast of [[Chonburi Province]] showed high levels of [[microplastics]], leading the authors to warn that, "Health risks are possible when people consume these contaminated marine organisms, particularly shellfish."<ref name="MPB-2017">{{cite journal|last1=Thushari|first1=GGN| last2=Senevirathna| first2=JDM|last3=Yakupitiyage|first3=A|last4=Chavanich|first4=S|title=Effects of microplastics on sessile invertebrates in the eastern coast of Thailand: An approach to coastal zone conservation|journal=Marine Pollution Bulletin|date=2017-11-15|volume=124|issue=1|pages=349–355|doi=10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.06.010|pmid=28760587|doi-access=free|bibcode=2017MarPB.124..349T }}</ref>

Thailand's Pollution Control Department (PCD) estimates that plastic waste in the country is increasing at an annual rate of 12 percent, or around two million [[tonne]]s per year.<ref name="Nation-20180506"/>

===Oil spills===
In 2013, a pipeline leak resulted in an oil slick that went on to coat a beach on the nearby Ka Samet island.<ref name="afp20220127">{{cite news |title=Thailand rushes to contain oil spill after undersea leak |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220127-thailand-rushes-to-contain-oil-spill-after-undersea-leak |agency=Agence France-Presse |publisher=France 24 |date=27 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

In late January 2022, a leak in the pipeline operated by the Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Ltd caused a spill of 20 to 50 tonnes across 47 km<sup>2</sup> of water, with some oil reaching the coast of [[Rayong province]] 20&nbsp;km away.<ref name="afp20220127" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wongcha-um |first1=Panu |editor-last1=Coates |editor-first1=Stephen |title=Thai beach declared disaster area after oil spill |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thai-beach-declared-disaster-area-after-oil-spill-2022-01-29/ |work=Reuters |date=29 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

==Tourism==
[[File:ปลาวาฬบรูด้า.jpg|thumb|[[Eden's whale]] feeds in the gulf]]
[[File:Bryde's whale (9547580674).jpg|thumb|Eden's whale off Bang Tapun]]
The gulf's many [[coral]] reefs have made it attractive to divers. The tropical warmth of the water attracts many tourists. Some of the most important tourist destinations in the Gulf of Thailand are the islands of [[Ko Samui]] and [[Ko Pha Ngan]] in [[Surat Thani Province]], [[Pattaya]] in [[Chonburi Province]], [[Cha-am]] in [[Phetchaburi Province]], [[Hua Hin]] in [[Prachuap Khiri Khan Province]], and [[Ko Samet]] in [[Rayong Province]].

In recent years, the bay has become known for its [[whale watching]] activities, targeting the endemic, critically endangered populations of [[cetacean]]s ([[Eden's whale]]s, newly described [[Omura's whale]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dmcr.go.th/detailAll/32142/nws/141|title=มารู้จักวาฬโอมูระ สัตว์ทะเลในบัญชีสัตว์สงวนชุดใหม่|trans-title=Come to know Omura's whale, marine animal in the new reserve animal account|language=th|work=DMCR|date=2019-05-13}}</ref> [[Chinese white dolphin]]s, and [[Irrawaddy dolphin]]s showing unique feeding behaviors), and [[dugong]]s.<ref>{{cite web  |url=http://chm-thai.onep.go.th/chm/MarineBio/Paper/Mammals/7thSEASTAR.41.pdf  |title=Dugongs and seagrass in Thailand: Present status and future challenges  |pages=41–50  |publisher=Phuket Marine Biological Center and Department of Marine and Coastal Resources  |access-date=June 7, 2016  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102737/http://chm-thai.onep.go.th/chm/MarineBio/Paper/Mammals/7thSEASTAR.41.pdf  |archive-date=March 4, 2016  |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref>{{cite web  |url=http://rtc.sfsu.edu/research/papers/Conservation%20of%20dugongs%20(Dugong%20dugon)%20along%20the%20eastern%20Gulf%20of%20Thailand%20in%20Thailand%20and%20Cambodia.pdf  |title=Conservation of the Dugong (Dugong Dugon) on the Eastern Coast of the Gulf of Thailand  |publisher=Ocean Park Conservation Foundation Aberdeen, Hong Kong & Project Aware, Australia  |date=May 1, 2004  |access-date=June 7, 2016  |archive-date=September 8, 2015  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908055018/http://rtc.sfsu.edu/research/papers/Conservation%20of%20dugongs%20(Dugong%20dugon)%20along%20the%20eastern%20Gulf%20of%20Thailand%20in%20Thailand%20and%20Cambodia.pdf  |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name=IUCNpdf>Marsh, H. ''et al.'' (2002). [http://www.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2002-001.pdf Dugong: status reports and action plans for countries and territories] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070508123219/http://iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/2002-001.pdf |date=2007-05-08 }}. IUCN.</ref> It was first classified by [[Philipp Ludwig Statius Müller|Müller]] in 1776 as ''Trichechus dugon''.<ref name=paleo1>[https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=65051 Dugong dugon]. The Paleobiology Database. Retrieved on 22 July 2007.</ref> Five species of the sea turtles have been found in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman sea coast, including olive ridley turtles, green turtles, hawksbill turtles, loggerhead turtles, and leatherback turtles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boonngok |first1=Papitchaya |title=Threatened sea turtles have Thai navy for protection |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-turtles-idUSTRE55L1GE20090622 |access-date=11 August 2021 |work=Reuters |date=22 June 2009}}</ref>

==Territorial disputes==
The area between Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam is subject to several territorial disputes. Malaysia and Thailand have chosen to jointly develop the disputed areas, which include the islands of [[Ko Kra]] and [[Ko Losin]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2627&context=lhapapers  |title= Defining areas for joint development in disputed waters - Malaysia–Thailand p. 13
 | publisher= University of Wollongong |access-date=June 7, 2016}}</ref> A long-standing dispute between Cambodia and Vietnam in the Gulf of Thailand concerns mainly the island of [[Phú Quốc]] or Koh Tral in Khmer, which is off the Cambodian coast.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Prescott|first1=J. R. V.|title=Boundaries and Frontiers|url=https://archive.org/details/boundariesfronti0000pres|url-access=registration|date=1978|publisher=Rowman and Littlefield|isbn=978-0847660865}}</ref> Cambodia also claims {{convert|48000|km2|mi2}} of [[Continental shelf|shelf area]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dzurek |first1=Daniel J. |editor1-last=Ganster |editor1-first=Paul |editor2-last=Lorey |editor2-first=David E. |title=Borders and Border Politics in a Globalizing World |date=2005 |publisher=S.R. Books |location=Lanham |isbn=0-8420-5104-X |pages=301–313 |chapter=Maritime Agreements and Oil Exploration in the Gulf of Thailand}} [Reprint of {{cite book |last1=Dzurek |first1=Daniel J. |editor1-last=Blake |editor1-first=Gerald |editor2-last=Pratt |editor2-first=Martin |editor3-last=Schofield |editor3-first=Clife |editor4-last=Brown |editor4-first=Janet Allison |title=Boundaries and Energy: Problems and Prospects |date=1998 |publisher=Kluwer Law |location=London |isbn=90-411-0690-1 |pages=117–135 |chapter=Maritime Agreements and Oil Exploration in the Gulf of Thailand}}]</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title= Maritime Claims, Conflicts and Cooperation in the Gulf of Thailand |journal= Ocean Yearbook Online |volume= 22 |pages= 75–116 |doi= 10.1163/221160008x00064 |year= 2008 |last1= Schofield |first1= Clive }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[2010 floods in Thailand and north Malaysia]]
* [[Apsara field]]
* [[Malaysia Airlines flight 370]]
{{Portal bar|Thailand|Water|Geography}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Gulf of Thailand}}
* [http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/4351/1/4351_1871.pdf?UkUDh:CyT Maritime boundary delimitation in the gulf of Thailand – Schofield, Clive Howard (1999)]

{{List of seas}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Gulf of Thailand| ]]
[[Category:Gulfs of the Pacific Ocean|Thailand]]
[[Category:Maritime Southeast Asia]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Seas of Thailand]]
[[Category:Gulfs of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of the South China Sea]]
[[Category:Cambodia–Thailand border]]
[[Category:Cambodia–Vietnam border]]
[[Category:Malaysia–Vietnam border]]
[[Category:Gulfs of Asia]]