Thailand almost seems designed with the sometimes adventure-seeking, sometimes repose-minded, but always eager traveler in mind. Its beaches have no worldly equal. Bangkok buzzes with activity and color. And Thailand's jungley highlands are a banquet for beauty-fanciers.

• TOTAL AREA: 514,000 sq km

• LAND AREA: 511,770 sq km

• WATER AREA: 2,230 sq km

• POPULATION: 64,631,595

• RELIGIONS: Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)

• LANGUAGES: Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects

• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Constitutional Monarchy

• CAPITAL CITY: Bangkok

• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: baht (THB)

• TIME ZONE: GMT/UTC +7