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.
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