About Myanmar

Location and Area

Myanmar "The Golden Land" is lied to the further west of Malay peninsula in Asia continent and from 92º to 101º East Longitude and from 10º to 23º 30' North Latitude based on the Atlas Book (something covers the maps of all fourteen States and Divisions in Myanmar) issued in 2003-04 by Myanmar Survey Department.

Noticeably, the North Pole line bearing 23½º is nearly passing by Tetain (Tedam) in the north of Chin State, Tagaung on the eastern bank of Ayerwaddy river in the further north of Mandalay Division and Theinni in Northern Shan State while the East Longitude 96º line is closely passing by Yangon, the capital in lower Myanmar and Mandalay, the newest ancient city and second capital in central dry zone of Myanmar. The latter line is remarkably noted for it is marked as the standard point of mid-day for Myanmar.

From the geographical point of view, Myanmar is seemingly narrowing about 1300 miles (2050 kms) from north to south and 575 miles (920 kms) at its widest point from east to west, assuming in the form of a dancing peacock. It has an area of 261,228 square miles (676, 577 square kilometres) so it is the largest country in south-east Asia, next to Indonesia. Comparatively, it is two times to the size of Vietnam and Japan in Asia then Germany in Europe. Today, Myanmar is bordering with the neighbouring countries, China to the north and north-east about 1384 miles (2216 kms), Laos to the east about 146 miles (232 kms), Thailand to the south-east about 1304 miles (2088 kms), Bangladesh to the north-west about 903 miles (1445 kms). Fortunately, Myanmar is not a land-lock country but opening to the vast sea in the south-west and south as Rakhine Coastal Region about 443 miles (709 kms), Ayerwaddy Delta Region about 272 miles (434 kms) and Tanintharry Coastal Area about 670 miles (1072 kms) totaling the coastal length of 1359 miles (2232 kms).

In dealing with the Myanmar land-mass, scientists and geologists estimate that Assem the eastern province of India and the entire part of western Myanmar (today Rakhine, Chin, Kachin States and Sagaing and Ayerwaddy Divisions) were emerged in 62 million years B.P (of Cenzoaic era) by means of 2nd Himaliyan Geosyncline whereas the Shan Plateau, and mountain barriers in the south were gradually rising as the coastal area of Myanmar. In 60-40 million years B.P, Rakhine mountain-ranges were emerging as a series of islands and, Monywa and Wuntho were also appearing as the islands by vocalinc eruption. In about 40 million years B.P, the land-mass of Mingun, Mandalay today of 22º North Latitude was rising and there appeared forests in Chindwin river valley, Lashio and Nanma in Northern Shan State. Finally, Himalayan Mountain-Building Movement clearly divided Assam and Myanmar in 15 million years B.P then there appeared Ayerwaddy river, Chindwin river, Rakhine mountain-ranges, Bago mountain ranges and others closely resembling to the present geographical formations.

From the geographical point of view, Myanmar at present is mostly covered with a series of mountain-ranges, hillocks, and plateaus where the major rivers flow from north to south forming their respective valleys amidth these mountains. The mountain system of Myanmar, in fact, stretches from the mountain knots of central Asia and Tibeto-Chinese borderlands, then is shaped in a form of horse-shoe in Myanmar. These mountain-ranges bordering Myanmar land frontier in the barriers. In the extreme north of Myanmar are a continuation of snow-capped mountains, including of the highest mountain peak Khakaborazi 19296 feet (5881 meters), and Ganlanrazi 19161 feet (about 5840) meters and even, the pass are well over 10,000 feet. On the east are the Kachin Hills, the Shan Pleateau, the Kayinni hills then proceeding to Tanintharry mountain-ranges with an average elevation of 3,000-5,000 feet. On the west, the mountain ranges stretch from Naga Hills and the Chin Hills in the north to the Rakhine mountain-ranges then continue to Cape Negrais and finally sub-merge into the vest sea. In the heart of Myanmar, there are Bago mountain-ranges and famous Mt.Popa is to the further north of Bago mountan-ranges in the central dry zone of Myanmar.
As a matter of fact, Myanmar should fall into three well-designated geomorphorlogical divisions as (1) The Western Hilly Region (2) The Central Plain or Belt and (3) The Eastern Shan Plateau.

(1) The Western Hilly Region

It comes out from the continuation of mountain-knots in central Asia and Tibeto-Chinese borderlands and consists of the highest mountain-peaks of Khakabirazi (19219 feet or 5881 meters), and Ganlanrazi (19161 feet or about 5840 meters) in the extreme north, Saramati (12553 feet or 3500 meters) in Chin-Hills (10800 feet or 3000 meters) and Rakhine mountain-ranges in a great arc of some 700 miles long and 150 miles broad along the sea to cape Negrais. The mountain ranges consists of numerous north-south ridges with striking features of parallelism and the Naga Hills and the Chin Hills in the centre of the arc reach come up about 8,000 feet while the Rakhine mountain-ranges in the south are much lower then located between the Ayeyarwaddy Delta Region to the east and Rakhine Coastal Region to the west.

(2) The Central Belt or Plain

The Central Belt or Plain consists the river valleys of the Ayerwaddy, Chindwin and Sittaung. This Belt forms a great structural trough between the Shan Plateau in the east and the Rakhine mountain-ranges in the west, then is filled with a great mass of sediment brought down by these respective rivers. Among them, the Ayerwadddy river valley is the most well-known and the widest one in our Myanmar, then ends with the Ayerwaddy Delta. This delta is starting just below Hinthada and forming a net-work of multiple water-ways with an area of some 13,000 square miles. Because the storing of the richest alluvial soil in the country, the delta is highly reputated as the wealth of the nation and one of the greatest rice granaries in the world.

Shan Plateau

In the east of Myanmar, there lies a great table-land of massive lime-stone and crystalline rocks forming the Shan Plateau. It is actually the southern continuation of the Yunnan table-land and itself continues southward in the form of a number of parallel ranges, known collectively as the Tanintharri mountain -ranges. It has an area of about 60,000 square miles and an average elevation of 3000-4000 feet with some 10,000 feet high mountain peaks then is deeply dissected by the gorges of Thanlwin river which has its sources far north in the upper reaches of Tibet. One thing is that the water-sources and streams of the table-land suddenly disappear into the lime-stone layer and re-appear at miles away. Thus, hot-spas are usually seen in that respective region.

Ayewaddy River

Just like the Nile of Egypt, the Ayerwaddy is the life-blood of Myanmar. This river rises from high mountains in extreme north of Myanmar. About 28 miles up to Myitkyina, the two major rivers, Maykha and Maylikha form the source of the Ayerwaddy then flow down to enter the Sea near Yangon after covering a distance of over 1300 miles, and tranpasses through the most fertile parts of the country so it is considered the life-line and the main high-way of Myanmar since it is navigable for about 900 miles.

Noticeably, the stone-age culture known as Anyathian culture of pre-historic sites and historic ancient cities viz, Tagaung, Sagaing, Mandalay, Amarapura, Inn-wa, Bagan, are located in the centre part of the mighty Ayerwaddy valley. On the other hand, it seems to divide the western part and eastern part of the country. It brings an amount of 158"-200" sediment to southward annually.

The lower part of Ayerwaddy pursues its water-way south-wards to the sea forming the vast flatness of its delta just below Pyay (Prome formerly). In the delta with an area of some 13,000 square miles fertile land, the Ayerwaddy branches out into eight major tributaries, such as Pathein river, Thetkethaung river, Phyamalaut river, Bogalay river, and so on. Yangon, the capital and the major gate-way of Myanmar, is itself not on the Ayerwaddy but stands on the Hline river some 20 miles inward from the mouth of the sea. As a point of interest, it is the confluence of the Hline which rises in the Bago mountain range and follows a course parallel to the eastern side of Delta traingle, and Bago river that helps to give Yangon its superb water nodality.

Apart from the innumerable creeks rippling through the flat land, the Delta form a vast expanse of paddy field. At the beginning of ancient Myanmar history, more than 12-13 centuries ago, it is believed that much of the lower delta was probably still under the sea.

Chindwin River

Starting at Hukaung Valley to the west ot Kachin State, Chindwin river flows southward through the Manipur Valley then Kalay and finally joins into the Ayerwaddy river near Pakkoku.

Chindwin river is, however, about 685 miles (1000 km) long, it is paractically navigable for about 500 miles (800 km) since it transpasses over hilly mountain region and has a shallow river morphology. Between the upper Ayerwaddy and the Chindwin is a region of wooded hills in the north and of open, scrobby rolling country further south.

Sittaung River

It has its sources in the west of Shan Plateau and not so far from Mt.Popa carrying on the previous line of the Ayerwaddy which once flowed down this corrider until it was captured by a tributary of the earlier Chindwin cutting back. It flows parallel to the lower Ayerwaddy through the rich timber area of Taung-ngu southwards to the sea. After a distance of about 250 miles (400km), it opens out into a wide estuary in the form of a bell-mouth, noted for its tidal waves of about 12 feet height, and empties its waters into the Gulf the Mottama (Martaban). This estuary is about mid-way between Yangon the town of Mawlamyine on Thanlwin's bank. As of being filled with fertile soil, this river valley is really good for paddy cultivation then effective mean of teak-logs transportation but not for navigable bestowed upon its dangerous tide and waves.

Thanlwin River

It rises in Tibet and cuts Shan Plateau. It is ,in fact, a torrent walled in on both sides by high banks whose turbulent water race over crags and down deep chasm to enter the sea near Mawlamying. Through the Shan Plateau and Kayah State, Thanlwin is tamed at the lower part in Kayin State so the upper part of Thanlwin is useful for timber rafting only and navigable about 60 miles from Mawlamyine by the mouth of river up to Shwegun. Ferry villages on the Thanlwin river covered to a length of 675 miles (about 1100 km) are perched high above the river to free from the floods of 60 to 90 feet. Fortunately, Belukyon (The Island of Belu) at the mouth of the river defends Mawlamyine from high wind and wave.

Forests and Natural Plants

Myanmar is still covered with natural forests and in their unspoiled narure. Over 50% to the total area of Myanmar is forest areas and the best natural habitats for a large number of biodiversities. Based on the elevation, soil-type, temperature and rain-fall, forest types could be varied, for example, Indine forest at below 2500' elevation; Tidal forest at swamp areas and so on.
Based on the interpretion of Forest Department, Ministry of Forest, Myanmar Forest should be classified into 8 different types as follows;

1. Tidal forest
2. Beach and dune forest
3. Swamp forest
4. Evergreen forests
5. Mixed Deciduous Forests
6. Mixed Deciduous Forests
7. Deciduous Dipterocap or Indaing Forest
8. Hill and temperate Evergreen Forests

The timber species are grouped into 3 grades according to their weighs; (2) Heavy hardwoods ranging in density from about 816 to 1124kg per cu.m, (b) Moderately Heavy hard-woods ranging in density from about 656-816kg per cu.m and (c) light hard-woods ranging from 352 to 656 kd per cu.m.

The commonest hardwoods of Myanmar should be regarded in 50 species.
Based on the static mention, there were 25,388,266 acres of forest reserves, 59,266,363 acres of public forest (unclassed forest) totalling 84,654,585 acres of forest area in Myanmar in 2001 whereas natural teak growth was in 40,711,500 acres and state teak plantation was in 543,620 acres.

Today, about 51% to the total area of Myanmar is still covered with natural forest area and most of the forest area are seen in their unspoiled nature. Since the eco-tourism has been introduced to Myanmar, the forest area of Myanmar are the best means for this indusitry. On the other hand, they are also the best natural habitats for a wide-range of biodivers ities including brown antlered deer, clouded loepard, takin and new species of leaf deer and so on. For the preservation, research, education and so on, some of wild life santuaries and natural reservers are well designated on their favoruable conidition in Myanmar as folllows;

1. Alaungdawkathapa National Park
2. Shwesettaw Deer Park
3. Popa Mountain Park
4. Thamihla Wild life Sancturay
5. Htamanthi Wild life Sancturay
6. Pitaung Wild life Sancturay
7. Chatthinn Wild life Sancturay
8. Inlay Lake Wild life Sancturay
9 Khakaborazi National Garden
10. Lwelmwai Wild-life Sancturay
11. Pasar Natural Reserve
12. Rakhine Mountain range Wild-life Sancturay (Elephant)
13. Moeyingyi Wild life Sancturay (Birds)
14. Hlawaga Wild-life park
15. Yangon Zoological Garden
16. Lampi Marine Park
17. Hukaung Valley Wild-life Sancturay (Tigers)
18. Natmataung Wild life Sancturay and other 15 Sancturaries.

Seasons

The three seasons, the rainy season,the cold or winter and the hot or summer, all contribute to the growth of different products

Rainy Season:

As a result of the south-west monsoon, there is a well-defined rainy season from the mid of May to the mid of October. The costal regions of Rakhine and Tanintharri with the mountains in the extreme north of the country have a high rain-fall of about 200" annually. The Ayerwaddy Delta has an average annual rain-fall of 100" and the plateau to the east gets average about 80" per year. As of being the rain shadow area, the Dry zone in central Myanmar has an annual rain-fall of 25"-45" only.

Winter or Cold Season

It usually lasts about 3½ months from the mid of october to the end of January. During the cold season, the temperature in southeren Myanmar may fail the neighourbood of 60º fahrenheif (21ºC), while in the Dry zone and in Northern Myanmar, the cold will be more intense.

Summer or Hot Season

It lasts from February to the mid of May whereas the hottest month is April. In this season, a shade of temperature of 100º is common in the Delta while the Dry zone is higher and average temperature should be regarded about 113º F.

National Races

The inhabitants of Myanmar are the descentants of the three major migrations from Tibet and Central Asia, the cradle of the human race of Mongoloid stock, the people of Myanmar are thus closely allied to Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Tibetans, Thais, Malaysians and other inhabitants of eastern Asia. The members of the stock found in Myanmar are derived from three main branches of

(1) Mon Khmer group
(2) Tibeto Burman (Myanmar) group and
(3) Thai Chinese group

(1) Mon-Khmer

The first migration in history indicated a wave of migration into Myanmar of a large group of people from central Asia. These are the Mon of Myanmar and the Khmer of Indo-China. Of this first migration, a few thousand Mons are still to be seen in lower Myanmar while of the Khmer no distinctive tribe exists today. Of this group in Myanmar, the descendant tribes in Myanmar today are the Mon, Wa, Lawa, Palaung, Pale, Myo, Yao, Raing, Padaung, Yinbaw, and Zayein.

(2) Tibeto-Burman (Myanmar)

The Second migration came from central Asia through Tibet known as Tibeto-Burman (Myanmar). This group consisted of three main sub-groups. (1) The Myanmar and proto-Myanmar, the Chin-Kachin and the Lolo. Today, they are the Myanmar, Rakhine, Dawei, Kadu, Hpon, Marue, Lashie, Asie, Yaw, Mroes, Danues, Inthas, Naga, Gaurie, Lolo, Lisu, Yawyin, Lahu and so on, of Myanmar.

(3) Thai-Shan

The third wave of Migration known as Thai-Chinese came into Myanmar between 13th and 14th centuries from Yunnan where they had formed the kingdom of Nanchao since the 7th century. Today, they are the Shan, Kayin, Shan-Myanmar, Shan-Chinese, Taunghtu (and the Thai)

Nowadys, there are 8 major ethnic groups sub-divided into over 100(135) ethnic groups are in Myanmar and 8 major tribes should be noted in percentage as follows;

Myanmar 69.0
Shan 8.5
Chin 8.5
Kayin 6.2
Rakhine 4.7
Mon 2.4
Kachin 1.4
Kayah 0.4
with a total population of over 53 millions.

Religion

Buddhism is the state-religion and about 85% population are Buddhists. As there is no bound in belief and worship, there are also Christian (5. 6%). Islamist (3.7%), Hindu (0.51%), Nat worship (1.2%) and other (0.16%).
At present, Union of Myanmar is composed of 7 Divisions and 7 States while the Shan State is the largest in area and Yangon Division is the smallest in area. Yangon is the capital and major gate-way and Mandalay is the second capital of Myanmar. The 7 Divisions and 7 States with their repsective captials, thus, could be seen as follows;

(1) Kachin State	Myitkyina
(2) Kayah State	Loikaw
(3) Kayin State	Pa-an
(4) Chin State	Hakha
(5) Mon State	Mawlamyine
(6) Rakhine State	Sittway
(7) Shan State	Taung-gyi
(8) Tanintharri	Dawei
Division (9) Bagon Division	Bago
(10) Magway Division	Magway
(11) Mandalay Division	Mandalay
(12) Sagaing Division	Sagaing
(13) Yangon Division	Yangon
(14) Ayerwaddy Division	Pathein

Currency

The primary unit is "Kyat" composed of 100 pyar and coins and bank-notes 1,5,10,20,50 so on are regulated.
F.E.Cs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) in equivalent of Us$ are also used in 1,5,10,20 notes.

Myanmar Chronology

Because the untiring efforts of historians, excavators, archaeologists, linguists and scholars so on through out the history, quite a large number of exploration objects and excavation finds have already been collected and shed ample light on Myanma chronological sequences of the stone age, charcoal-lithic age and bronze-age in pre-history, iron-age in proto-history, Bagan, Pinya, Sagaing, Inn-wa, Taung-ngy, Nyaung-yan and Konbaung periods in historic period.

During the iron-age (about 2000-1000 B.P) of proto Myanmar history, there were Pyu city-states flourished in central Myanmar and Shan State while Mon people founded their city-states in lower Myanmar known as Ramanya region and Tanintharry coastal area then Rakhine people had organized their respective kingdoms in western part of Myanmar contemporarily (at the same time).
The Pyu, surprising extinct now for unknown reason, had serially founded their respective kingdoms in 1st-9th century A.D and they could be mentioned like that Visnu near Taungtwingyi Township, Halin in Wetlet Township of Shwebo District, Sri-kshetra near Pyay, Maingmaw to the east of Kume and south of Kyaukse District, Wadi in Nwarhtoegyi Township of Myingyan District, Thibaw in Northern Shan State, Kyaikkatha, and Thargara near Dawei so on. Among the Pyu city-states, Visnu is the earliest and Sri-kshetra is the last and biggest in size. The Pyu became Buddhist in about 4th century A.D and got their writing alittle earlier than that. In 7th century A.D, they became stronger and ran over Mon region assuming the earliest empire of Myanmar then were destroyed in the first half of 9th century A.D by the invasion of Nan-cho from northern China. To scope the Pyu culture on concrete evidences, Sri-kshetra flourished from 4th to 9th century A.D, near Pyay should be internationally visited where the largest and fullest finds are systematically exhibited at Sri-kshetra museum, popularly known as the "Hmawza Museum".

Mon people first settled in Menam valley and later spread to Cambodian, Malay, Myanmar, even to India. In about 2-3 century A.D, they migrated into Myanmar, especially the valley between Thanlwin and Sittaung rivers. Like Pyu, they were Buddhists and adopted Indian alphabet for their own writings, in about 4th-5th century A.D. Mon kingdom was also destroyed in 825-835 A.D by Nancho, similar to Pyu. But, Mon people are still surviving in lower Myanmar, especially in Bago Division and Mon State. The impressive architecture, laterite civilization, glazed-wares are seen at Twante, Pathein, Dala, Thanlyin-Kyauktan, Yangon, Bago, Waw, Zokethoke, Kyaikhto, Thaton, Mawlamyine, Thanbyuzayat and their envirous so on. Bagan also have many admirable feature of Mon architecture and culture, and Thai and Cambodia do either. The excellent laterite carvings and architecture of ancient Mon could be enjoyed at Shweasaryan in Thaton, Ayetthama village, Kyontu pagoda at Waw. Rakhine people had already been in the Rakhine region in about 4th-5th century A.D, and they founded their kingdom. The remains of ancient architectures and cities of Rakhine should be enjoyed at Myohaung (Mrauk-U) and Vesali then their respective environs.

We can safely assert to the fact that King Anawrahta (A.D 1044-1077) had successfully shaped Bagan dynasty as the Isolated Myanmar Empire. A various structures of religious buildings and monuments were erected in about 300 years from 11th to 13th century A.D. In Bagan, architecture, carving and mural painting should be enjoyed as one composition. Ananda for loftiness, Dhammayan (gyi) for massiveness, Thatbyinnyu for height, and Shwezigon for beautifulness should be surely appreciated. For those who interest in fantastic figures and striking mural paintings, should drop to Minnanthu village and environs. But, it should be mindful that each and every monument in Bagan has its own peculiarity and attraction.

In 1364 A.D, King Thadominbyu founded Inn-wa capital and dynasty but King Bayintnaung of Taung-ngu defined Bago as his Hanthawaddy capital and in a 30 year period, (1551-1581 A.D) successfully unified a greater area as Second Myanma Empire. Finally, King Alaungmintayargyi founded Konbaung dynasty in 1752-60 at Shwebo as capital, and the third and last Myanmar Empire. Later, the capital was repeatedly shifted from one place to another, for example, Inn-wa, Sagaing and Amarapura so on, until Yatanabon Mandalay was erected in 1857 A.D as the real last capital of Myanmar monarches and lasted 26 years only upto 1885 A.D

As a whole, there are so many ancient cities in Myanmar reflecting their own cultural characteristics and unique remains; such as Bagan style is largely influenced by Indian, Pyu and Mon characters then Inn-wa period produced complete Myanmar style and character while Mandalay period is obviously indication the inclusion of European themes and characters in Myanmar culture.