I have lived and visited Bangkok since 1976.... somethings just never change!! 

23 hours ago, tezzainthailand said:

Chaiyaphum I have heard as a possible new capital, well above sea level and centrally located.

Buriram from those in the know.

On 26/05/2017 at 0:06 PM, Estrada said:

History of flooding problem - Timeline:

• Until  1767 Capital of Thailand was Ayutthaya

• 1767 – 1782 moved to Thonburi due to persistent flooding

• 1782 Capital moved from Thonburi side to Bangkok side of river due to persistent flooding

• 1785 Major Flood 4.5metre deep

• 1819 Major Flood 3.2metre deep

• 1831 Top of the City flood defence wall

• 1917 Major Floods all roads submerged 1mth

• 1942 Major Flood 1.5metre deep for 3 months

• 1975 Flood caused by depression, 4,000 m³/s flow, 1,100 MB damage

• 1980 4 days of more than 200 mm. rain, 700 MB damage

• 1982 1,093 MB damage

• 1983 Several cyclones, flooded for 3-5 months, 6,600 MB damage

• 1995 5,400 m³/s flow, recorded high water level in Chao Phraya River at +2.27m MSL, flood dike overflowed, 3,000 MB damage within Bangkok, 50,000 MB damage outside Bangkok. Total 72 Billion Baht.

• 1996 +2.14 m MSL water level, flood dike overflowed, 1,500 MB damage

• 2002 – Affecting Ayutthaya, Angthong, Singhburi, and Bangsai

• 2006 Affecting Singhburi, Angthong,  Ayutthaya, Bangsai, Tai Chen Districts: Banglen, Krathumban and Ampur Muang Samut Sakhon

• 2010 October due to overflow of Chaophraya

• 2011 Major Flood up to 2metres deep

• A Fourth Master Plan to prevent flooding was proposed after the 2011 disasterous floods, but has not been carried out consisting of:

• Flood Mitigation Plan For The Chaophraya Delta

• Super-Express Floodways

• Widening Chai Nat and Pasak Canals

•  4 large canals for Nakhon Pathom & Samut Sakhon

•  2^nd Chao Phraya River Project: Pasak to Gulf Thailand

•  Floodway: Chai Nat via Suphanburi to Gulf Thailand

•  Diversion Tha Chin River as per 3^rd Master Plan 

  Cost: 100 Billion Baht

  Anticipated Result: No more flooding on the river

  Completion: Within 3 years

5400 cumecs wow that is some flow!!

7 hours ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

The more I travel around Thailnd the more I realize that it is a pretty flat country.  Especially in the cities of Bsngkok, Chang Mai. Pattaya, Udon Thani and

many others,  This does not help when during the rainy season, there are severe storms with lots of rain in a short period of time.  When the rivers are high

as well like in 2009, Bangkok can flood in many places, and so can Chang Mai.  Good luck to all affected by this years storms.

 

Away from those places especially on the western side of Thailand there are quite a few hills and mountains. Have a look on Google Earth.

 

Issan though is fairly flat.

I looked on Google earth and see the mountains, but is there any cities other than Chiang Mai that is built close to those mountains??

  No most cities in Thailand are out on the flat plane of the country, and flooding in flat areas lasts longer as the drainage is not as good as

in hilly areas. That is why places like Bangkok has a problem with drainage, as well as the plugged off klongs, and filled in klongs.

 Geezer