Kra Isthmus

The Isthmus of Kra is the isthmus that connects the Malay Peninsula with the Asian continent. At its narrowest point between the two Thai cities Kraburi Chumphon and the coastal distance between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand is only 44 km. Most of the isthmus is one of Thailand, west and north of the narrowest point is Myanmar.

The isthmus is after the city of Kra Buri, capital of the district ( Amphoe ) Kra Buri in the province of Ranong, named.

Kra Canal

Since the waterway would significantly shortened by the Malay Peninsula by a channel on the isthmus, there was since the 17th century plans to build a " Kra - channel " or " Thai - channel ". Because of the immense cost and also because of the anticipated environmental problems, it is far remained on plans to build this canal near the narrowest point or a little further south between Surat Thani and Phang Nga. The channel plans are also political: The immense importance of the seaport of Singapore is the fact that a large part of East and Southeast Asian ship cargo around the Malay Peninsula by the Straits of Singapore and the Strait of Malacca leads. The importance of the seaport in Singapore would go back if possible, when a navigable canal would be built in the Isthmus of Kra.