Mae Klong

{{Short description|River in western Thailand}} {{Other uses|Maeklong (disambiguation)}} {{Distinguish|Mekong River}} {{Infobox river | name = Mae Klong River | native_name = {{native name|th|แม่น้ำแม่กลอง}} | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = Mouth of the Mae Klong River aerial view.jpg | image_size = 275px | image_caption = Mouth of the Mae Klong, [[Samut Songkhram]] | map = Thailand Physiography Mae Klong crop.jpg | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Thailand | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = Mouth location | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Thailand]] | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 =  | length = {{convert|132|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = [[Samut Songkhram]], [[Samut Songkhram Province]] | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = | source1 = | source1_location = Confluence of [[Khwae Yai River|Khwae Yai]] and [[Khwae Noi River|Khwae Noi]] rivers | source1_coordinates = {{coord|14|01|06|N|99|31|40|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:TH}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|28|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = [[Bay of Bangkok]] | mouth_location = [[Samut Songkhram]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|13|21|43|N|100|0|10|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:TH}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | tributaries_left = [[Khwae Yai River]], [[Khwae Noi River]] | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }} The '''Mae Klong''' ({{Langx|th|แม่น้ำแม่กลอง}}, {{RTGS|''Maenam Mae Klong''}}, {{IPA|th|mɛ̂ːnáːm mɛ̂ː klɔ̄ːŋ}}), sometimes spelled '''Meklong''', is a river in western [[Thailand]]. The river begins in [[Kanchanaburi Province]] and flows across [[Ratchaburi Province]] and [[Samut Songkhram Province]].

==Course== The origin of the river is in [[Kanchanaburi]] town, at the confluence of the [[Khwae Noi River|Khwae Noi]] (Khwae Sai Yok) and the [[Khwae Yai River]] (Khwae Si Sawat) rivers, having their sources in the eastern side of the [[Tenasserim Hills]]. It flows roughly southeastwards and southwards, often forming meanders across a wide [[floodplain]]. The river passes by the towns of [[Ban Pong, Ratchaburi|Ban Pong]] and [[Ratchaburi]] in [[Ratchaburi Province]]. Finally it ends in a swampy delta by the town of [[Samut Songkhram]] and empties into the northwestern shore of the [[Bay of Bangkok]], [[Gulf of Thailand]].<ref>[[Google Maps]]</ref> The main reservoir on the river is formed by the [[Mae Klong Dam]].<ref>[https://www.egat.co.th/home/en/mae-klong-rohpp/ Mae Klong Mini Hydro Power Plant, (Kanchanaburi)]</ref>

==Environment== The Mae Klong river basin has a tropical savanna climate, and is subject to two major thermal systems, the southwest and the northeast monsoons. The southwest monsoon brings moisture up from the Indian Ocean beginning in May and climaxing with heavy rains in September and October. These heavy rains are supplemented by [[cyclone]]s out of the South China Sea during the same two months. The rising of the winds of the northeast monsoon bring an end to this rainfall. Almost 80% of the annual rainfall in the basin occurs in the half-year from May to October. Total annual rainfall ranges from {{Convert|1000|mm|in|0}} on the coast to {{Convert|2400|mm|in|0}} at the higher elevations.<ref name="Env-impact-3">{{Cite book|author=Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies |year=1996 |chapter=Existing Environmental Conditions: Physical Resources |title=Final Report for Environmental Impact Assessment of Ratchaburi Power Plant Project |publisher=World Bank |pages=3-1–3-145|url=http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/984641468781164095/pdf/multi-page.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708223124/http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/984641468781164095/pdf/multi-page.pdf |archive-date=8 July 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy}}</ref> Temperatures in the basin range from lows of 18 °C to highs of 38 °C.<ref name="Env-impact-3" />

[[Giant freshwater stingray]]s inhabit the river. A sudden die-off of forty-five of these rays in September 2016 threatened them with [[local extinction]]. Authorities have suspected that pollution was the cause of the die-off.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last1=Rujivanarom|first1=Pratch|title=Authorities told to tackle water pollution to prevent deaths of aquatic animals|url=http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Authorities-told-to-tackle-water-pollution-to-prev-30297554.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013194327/http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Authorities-told-to-tackle-water-pollution-to-prev-30297554.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 13, 2016|accessdate=13 October 2016|magazine=The Nation|date=13 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Giant stingrays in Thailand's Mae Klong River facing extinction|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/giant-stingrays-under-threat-in-mae-klong-river|accessdate=13 October 2016|work=Straits Times|agency=THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK|date=9 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Atthakor|first1=Ploenpote|title=Alarm over dead stingrays in Mae Klong River|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1104828/alarm-over-dead-stingrays-in-mae-klong-river|accessdate=13 October 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=7 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Howard|first1=Brian Clark|title=70 Car-Size Stingrays Die Mysteriously|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/11/70-giant-stingrays-die-mae-klong-river-thailand/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111145808/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/11/70-giant-stingrays-die-mae-klong-river-thailand/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 11, 2016|accessdate=12 November 2016|work=National Geographic|date=10 November 2016}}</ref> It was later attributed to [[molasses]] waste water which leaked from a sugar/ethanol factory in [[Ban Pong District]] of Ratchaburi Province on 30 September that continued until 7 October. High levels of free [[ammonia]] killed the animals.<ref name=BP-20161021>{{cite news|title=Tests prove ethanol plant leak killed giant stingrays|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/environment/1116004/|accessdate=21 October 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=21 October 2016}}</ref> The Pollution Control Department will sue Rajburi Ethanol Co for allowing molasses wastewater to leak.<ref name="BP-20161021" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Atthakor|first1=Ploenpote|title=Environment loses as rays of hope dim|url=http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1113929/environment-loses-as-rays-of-hope-dim|accessdate=19 October 2016|work=Bangkok Post|date=19 October 2016|department=Editorial}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{commons category inline}} *[http://www.fishsiam.com/venues/maeklong-river-2.html Maeklong River - FishSiam.com] *[http://www.pbase.com/vvnaret/the_life_of_mae_klong&page=all The Life at Mae Klong River Thailand] *[http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/in-thailand/1324039/time-travelling-along-the-mae-klong-river Time-travelling along the Mae Klong...] {{coord|13|21|46|N|100|00|00|E|region:TH-75_type:waterbody_source:kolossus-frwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Rivers of Thailand]] [[Category:Geography of Kanchanaburi province]] [[Category:Geography of Ratchaburi province]] [[Category:Geography of Samut Songkhram province]] [[Category:Gulf of Thailand]]