Ping River

Evidence shows that habitation along the Ping River dates back to 1500 BCE. At that time it controlled trading routes between Yunnan and the Chao Phraya basin. Mangrai, a ruler from Ngoenyang, turned south to create an alternative "silk road" along the Ping River itself and captured Haripunchai in 1281. Following his successful conquest, he created Wiang Kum Kam as his capital before abandoning it following nearly a decade of floods, finally moving kilometres north to establish Chiang Mai as the capital of the Kingdom of Lanna in 1296. In the 20th century, the Ping River became a part of Siam. Chinese and foreign investors flooded the area, all in search of lucrative teak and business transactions. Missionaries came and built Chiang Mai’s first church along the eastern bank of the river, an area set aside for foreign residents by the ruling government who occupied the safe, flood-free western banks. Land along the banks, including its islands, were repurposed, such as a small island in the river that was donated to an American missionary Dr. James W. McKean by Chao Inthawarorot Suriyawong in 1907 to become a leper colony. With no cure for leprosy until the 1980s, lepers found relief in their sanctuary from social criticism, many of whom remain at the McKean Rehabilitation Centre today. ==Tributaries==

• Khlung River (2) • Suan Mak River (Joins the Ping at ) • Wang Chao River (Joins the Ping at ) • Pra Dang River (Joins the Ping at ) • Raka River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • Wang River (Joins the Ping at in the town of Tak) • Tributaries include Mo, Tui, Chang & Soi Rivers • Tak River (Joins the Ping at ) • Ko River (Joins the Ping at ) • Tun River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • Pa River • Chaem River (Joins the Ping at ) • Klang River (Joins the Ping at ) • Li River (Joins the Ping at ) • Tun River (2) (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • Khan River (2) (Joins the Ping at ) • Wang River (2) (Joins the Khan at ) • Kuang River (Joins the Ping at ) • Tha River (Joins Kuang at ) • Sapuat River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to inaccurate station data from Royal Irrigation Department) • Khanat River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • San River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates presently undeterminable due to recently built dam) • Tip River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates presently undeterminable due to recently built dam) • Phaem River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • Mempin River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • Lai River (2) (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • Sa River (Joins the Ping at ) • Rim River (Joins the Ping at ) • Nai River (Placement in tributary tree is approximate, geographical coordinates unavailable due to poor satellite resolution) • Taeng River (Joins the Ping at ) • Ngat River (Joins the Ping at ) ==Ping Basin==

The Ping Basin is one of the largest drainage basins of the Chao Phraya Watershed, draining of land. The greater Ping Basin, i.e. the basin of the entire Ping river system including its tributary the Wang River, drains a total of . The main dams in the basin are the Bhumibol Dam and the Doi Tao Dam. ==National Parks==

The Ping itself originates in Huai Nam Dang National Park and flows through Mae Ping National Park. ==Gallery==

File:Mae ta mann-09.JPG|Bathing elephants in the Taeng River, a Ping tributary File:Ping River cruise north of Chiang Mai, Thailand.jpg|Ping River north of Chiang Mai File:Ping River.jpg|Ping River, northern outskirts of Chiang Mai File:Mae chaem river.jpg|A Ping tributary, the Chaem River flows through the town of Mae Chaem File:Ping river near Bhumibol dam.jpg|Ping River, upstream from the Bhumibol Dam File:Bhumibol dam front.jpg|Bhumibol Dam, long, creating a reservoir with a surface area of . File:Sonnenaufgang am Fluß in Lampang (Thailand).jpg|Wang River, the main tributary of the Ping, flowing through Lampang File:Chaophrayansawan03.jpg|Confluence of the Ping with the Nan River at Nakhon Sawan ==References==