Lao River (Thailand)

Lao River
The Lao River at Ban Tha Sai, Chiang Rai Province
Map of the Thai highlands
Native name	น้ำแม่ลาว (Thai)
Location
Country	Thailand
State	Chiang Rai Province
District	Wiang Pa Pao, Mae Suai, Mae Lao, Mueang Chiang Rai
City	Chiang Rai city
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Phi Pan Nam Range, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand
Mouth	Kok River
• location	Sum Pratu, Chiang Rai Province
• coordinates	19°55′35″N 99°53′57″E / 19.92639°N 99.89917°E / 19.92639; 99.89917
• elevation	386 m (1,266 ft)
Length	206 km (128 mi)
Basin size	3,224 km2 (1,245 sq mi)
Discharge
• location	Mae Lao District
• average	28 m3/s (990 cu ft/s)
• minimum	0.3 m3/s (11 cu ft/s)
• maximum	451 m3/s (15,900 cu ft/s)
Discharge
• location	Mae Suai District
• average	34 m3/s (1,200 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Suai River

The Lao River or Mae Lao River (Thai: น้ำแม่ลาว, RTGS: Nam Mae Lao, pronounced [náːm mɛ̂ː lāːw]) is a river in Chiang Rai Province, Northern Thailand. It is a tributary of the Kok River, with its mouth near Sum Pratu in Mueang Chiang Rai District.^[1] This river gives its name to the Mae Lao District.

The Lao River originates in the Phi Pan Nam Range^[2] and flows initially northwards across Wiang Pa Pao District and then northeastwards through the districts of Mae Suai, Mae Lao and Mueang Chiang Rai passing just south of Chiang Rai city.

The Suai River, which gives its name to the Mae Suai District, is one of the main tributaries of the Lao River.