Mun River

For the river in Norfolk, England, see River Mun.

The Mun River (Thai: แม่น้ำมูล, RTGS: Maenam Mun, pronounced [mɛ̂ː.náːm mūːn]; Northeastern Thai: แม่น้ำมูล, pronounced [mɛ̄ː.ːnâːm mu᷇ːn]), sometimes spelled Moon River, is a tributary of the Mekong River. It carries approximately 26 cubic kilometres (6.2 cu mi) of water per year.

Mun River
The Mun River in Rasi Salai Dam during dry season, Rasi Salai District, Sisaket Province
Map of the Mun River drainage basin
Native name	แม่น้ำมูล (Thai)
Location
Country	Thailand
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Nakhon Ratchasima
• elevation	530 m (1,740 ft)
Mouth	Mekong River
• location	Amphoe Khong Chiam, Ubon Ratchathani province
• coordinates	15°19′14″N 105°30′29″E
• elevation	97 m (318 ft)
Length	641 km (398 mi)
Basin size	119,180 km2 (46,020 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	Mekong River, Ubon Ratchathani
• average	725 m3/s (25,600 cu ft/s)
• maximum	10,015 m3/s (353,700 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Chi River
• right	Lam Dom Noi
Longest source length: Chi River: 1047 km ⟶ Mun River: 115 km ⟶ Mekong River: Total: 1,162 km

Geography

The mouth of the Mun River on the Mekong

The river begins in the Khao Yai National Park area of the Sankamphaeng Range, near Nakhon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand. It flows east through the Khorat Plateau in southern Isan (Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, and Sisaket Provinces) for 750 kilometres (466 mi), until it joins the Mekong at Khong Chiam in Ubon Ratchathani. The Mun River's main tributary is the Chi River, which joins it in the Kanthararom District of Sisaket Province.

History

Thanks to the Andy Williams hit song, the Mun River was called "Moon River" by US Air Force personnel stationed at Ubon Ratchathani airbase during the Vietnam War. The spelling is still fairly common.^[1]

The controversial Pak Mun Dam, which is charged with causing environmental damage,^[2] is near the river's confluence with the Mekong.

Tributaries

• Lam Dom Noi
• Chi River
• Lam Takhong

Transport

• Seriprachathippatai 2497 Bridge

References

1. Ubon RTAFB - U.S. Air Force^{[not specific enough to verify]}
2. "Rivers of the World - the Mun River in Thailand", Radio Netherlands Archives, November 1, 2002

External links

Media related to Mun River at Wikimedia Commons