Short facts about the geography of Burma
| 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 |
| 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 94
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements |
| Geography -
note: |
strategic location near major Indian
Ocean shipping lanes | Source: World Factbook |
