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Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and
the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Geographic coordinates: 22 00 N, 98 00 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 678,500 sq km
land: 657,740 sq km
water: 20,760 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Texas
Land boundaries:
total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India
1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline: 1,930 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental
margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
(southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall,
mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)
Terrain: central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
Natural resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc,
copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones,
natural gas, hydropower
Land use:
arable land: 15%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 49%
other: 34% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 10,680 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding
and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic
droughts
Environment - current issues: deforestation; industrial
pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water
treatment contribute to disease
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
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signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean
shipping lanes
Geography
The diamond-shaped Myanmar is situated in Southeast Asia, with an
area of 676,577 square kilometres. It is bordered by China, Laos
and Thailand in the east, and by Bangladesh, India and the Indian
Ocean in the south and west.
A land of hills and valleys which are covered by subtropical forests,
it is protected by a horseshoe of mountains in the north, east and
west, creating profound climatic effects.
Enclosed within the mountain barrier are the flat lands and valleys
where most of the country's agricultural activities and population
are centred.
Climate
Myanmar has a monsoon climate with three main seasons, which varies
from region to region due to the country's diverse geography.
Summer is from February through May with the hottest period in April
and May when temperatures can reach about 43°C in central Myanmar,
36.1°C in Northern Myanmar and between 29.4°C and 35°C on the Shan
Plateau.
Rainy season starts from May and lasts until October. The best time
to visit Myanmar is in the winter season (November to February)
as it is cool and dry.
The coolest month is January where the temperature falls to 16°C
- in the highlands of over 3,000 feet, temperature can drop below
O°C. Extremes of temperature are rare.
Myanmar or Burma is a country in Southeast Asia. It lies along
the Bay of Bengal. Mountains border Burma on the west, north, and
east. They enclose the Irrawaddy River Valley.
The Irrawaddy River empties into the Bay of Bengal through many
mouths, forming a large delta.
Rangoon, Burma's capital and largest city, lies on this delta.
Despite multiparty elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition
party winning a decisive victory, the military junta ruling the
country refused to hand over power.
Key opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG San Suu
Kyi, under house arrest from 1989 to 1995, continues to have her
activities restricted; her supporters are routinely harassed or
jailed.
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