Short facts about the geography of Laos

Location:

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total:  236,800 sq km land:  230,800 sq km water:  6,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries:

total:  5,083 km border countries:  Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Mekong River 70 m highest point:  Phou Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use:

arable land:  3% permanent crops:  0% permanent pastures:  3% forests and woodland:  54% other:  40% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

1,250 sq km (1993 est.) note:  rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

floods, droughts, and blight

Environment - current issues:

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked

Source: World Factbook