Wikipedia:Today's featured article/February 5, 2005

The Isan region of Thailan, highlighted in red

Isan is the northeast region of Thailand. It is located on the Khorat Plateau, bordered by the Mekong River to the north and east, and by Cambodia to the south; to the west it is separated from Northern and Central Thailand by the Phetchabun mountain range. Agriculture is the main economic activity, but due to the poor conditions, output trails that of other parts of the country, and this is Thailand's poorest region. The main language of the region is Isan (which is similar to Lao), but Thai is also widespread and Khmer is spoken in the south. Most of the population is of Lao origin, but the region's incorporation into the modern Thai state has been largely successful. Prominent aspects of Isan culture include mor lam music, muay Thai boxing and the food, in which sticky rice and chillies are prominent. (more...)

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