A khlong (also commonly spelled klong; Thai: คลอง (Pronunciation)) is the general name for a canal on the central plain of Thailand. These canals are spawned by the Chao Phraya, the Tha Chin, the Mae Klong Rivers, and their tributaries. The Thai word khlong is not limited to artificial canals. Many smaller rivers are referred to as "khlong", followed by the name of the stream.
Khlong in Bangkok
Historically, the Thai capital Bangkok was crisscrossed by khlongs, and so gained the nickname, Venice of the East. Khlongs were used for transportation and for floating markets, but also for sewage disposal. Today, most of the khlongs of Bangkok have been filled in, although the Thonburi side of Bangkok (covering areas west of Chao Phraya River) still retains several of its larger khlongs.
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- "The Venice of the East" (PDF). Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
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