Ayutthaya sits in the middle of the central plains, on the fertile delta of the Chao Phraya River. Four major rivers, the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak, Noi, and Lop Buri Rivers encircle and nourish it. The City lsle, the heart of the province, is surrounded by the former three rivers. The web of waterways around and throughout the whole islet brought its nickname �Venice of the Orient� by western visitors. The river network also constituted a viable transportation link significant to the trade development, which, in turn, enriched the kingdom. In its heyday, Ayutthaya had control of the trading route and trading stations beyound the Gulf of Thailand.
