Facts about Myanmar
Location
 Myanmar
is situated in southeast Asia and is bordered on the
north and northeast by China; on the east and
southeast by Laos and Thailand; on the south by the
Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal; and on the west
by Bangladesh and India. It is located between
latitudes 09°32’N and 28°31’N and longitudes 92°10’E
and 101°11’E. The country covers an area of 677,000
square kilometers (261,228 square miles) ranging 936
kilometers (581 miles) from east to west and 2,051
kilometers (1,275 miles) from north to south.
Geography
The total area of Myanmar is 678,500 sq km where
657,740 sq km occupies the land and 20,760 sq km
occupies the water. The bordering countries are
Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km,
Laos 235 km, and Thailand 1,800 km. The central
lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands The
lowest point is the Andaman Sea (0 m) and the
highest point Hkakabo Razi (5,881 m).
Climate
Myanmar has three main seasons, hot season, rainy
season and cold season. Hot season is from March to
May, rainy season is from June to October and cold
season is from November to February. The tropical
monsoon is usually cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
and less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures,
lower humidity during winter.
Natural resources
Myanmar is rich in natural resources such as
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone,
precious stones, natural gas, hydropower.
People
Myanmar is made up of 135 national races, of which
the main national races are Kachin, Kayah, Kayin,
Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan. Population is
estimated to be over 60 million. The nationality is
Myanmar. There are more than 100 ethnic groups in
Myanmar. Some of the Ethnic groups are listed as
Akha, Palaung, Padaung, Naga, Taron, Eng and many
more near extinct tribes. The religions are
Buddhist, Christian and Muslim. The major language
is Myanmar, but minority ethnic groups have their
own languages. English is widely spoken and
understood.
More information at People & Life Style Section.
History
The earliest primates known today as Pondaung Man,
resided in Pondaung, northern Myanmar about 40
million years ago. After those era, many city states
emerged, and then came the 3 empires. In the third
century BC, Myanmar was already unified into one
strong empire. The first Myanmar Empire was created
by King Anawrahta of the Bagan Dynasty (1044-1077
AD). The second Myanmar Empire was created by King
Bayinnaung of the Taungoo Dynasty (1551-1581 AD).
The third Myanmar Empire was led by King Alaungpaya
of the Konbaung Dynasty (1752-1760 AD). These three
great kings were well-known in the Myanmar history
for their bravery and good leadership. In 1885, King
Thibaw, Queen Supaya Latt and the royal family were
taken to Ratanagiri, India and Myanmar fell under
the British Rule. Myanmar became a British Colony
from 1885 until 1948.
Neighbouring Countries
Myanmar has many neighbouring countries, Bangladesh
is located in the West, India in the Northwest,
China in the Northeast, Laos and Thailand in the
East.
General Information
-
The country
code is +95, and the internet access code is
.mm.
-
Time Zone = MMT
(UTC+6:30)
-
International
airports are in Yangon and Mandalay.
-
The country is
divided into states, divisions, townships, wards
and villages.
-
Business Hours
is usually from 9am to 5pm for private companies
and 9:30-4:30 for government offices. Working
days are from Monday through Friday. Public
holidays are also included.
-
Major Credit
cards are not widely accepted. Cash is always
more convenient. National currency is Kyat.
-
Electricity is
200 volts AC, 50Hz.
-
Taxis are
available everywhere. There are over 250 Buses
lines running through Yangon everyday. For
exclusive transport, there are car rental
services.
-
Domestic
highway bus terminals are Aung-Yadanar and
Sawbwargyi-Gone, both about 10 miles from
downtown Yangon.
-
Common local
unit of weight is peiktha (viss), which equals
to 3.6 pounds.
-
Most common
unit of measure is feet and inches.
-
Clothing should
be light, casual cotton wear, sandals or
slippers are best for summer.
-
A cardigan or
light jerkin for winter and quick drying clothes
and an umbrella during the rainy season.
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