Geography of Myanmar

What is true for many countries is even more so for Burma: the geography of Myanmar has largely influenced its past and current history. Myanmar’s geographical criterion has a substantial impact on the country’s situation, besides its relief or its climate, especially during the colonial period, when the country became one of the crossroads of trade between Europe and Asia. The study of the geography of Myanmar allows us to deeply understand the origins of the conflicts and the disputes for the country as well as an ideal Myanmar travel route.

General geography

This territory covers more than 675,000 km². The country shares a border with Bangladesh and India to the west and northwest, with China to the north and northeast, and with Laos and Thailand to the east and south-east. These boundaries are essentially a succession of hills and mountains, making the crossing of land borders quite complicated. The highest point of the country is the Hkakabo Razi, with an altitude of 5900m. The country also has a very large opening on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea (more than 1900km of coast).
In the plains crossed by Irrawaddy and Sittang, the Burmese have been cultivating rice for over 1000 years. The rivers have made this part of the territory fertile. The other part of the territory is a mixture of highlands and mountains inhabited by "peoples of the hills". These are ethnic minorities who settled there after migrating from neighboring countries, such as the Shans.

Territorial divisions

The geography of Myanmar, especially its reliefs and the distribution of its population, has made it possible to create the different territorial divisions of the country today. It can be seen clearly on Burma map that the country is divided into 7 states and 7 regions, most of which bear the name of their capital and home to individuals of Burmese ethnicity.

In the case of some states, such as Rakhine or Shan, for example, most of their population are ethnic minorities in Myanmar. Yangon is the most populous region, and Kayah State is the least populated administrative division. States and regions are also divided into districts.

Geography of Myanmar and climates

During your tour in Burma, one of the most important criteria for the success of your trip may be the Myanmar climate and weather.
It is important to note that the Myanmar weather is tropical with monsoon. There are three seasons. During the cold season, from November to February, the weather is dry and warm. During the warm season, from March to May, the weather is very hot; the temperatures often exceed 35 ° C. Finally, during the monsoon season, from June to October, it is very hot and rainy. Despite the influence of the monsoon on the country, precipitation varies enormously from one place to another. In particular it rains a lot by the sea. Thus, the best time to visit the country is during the cold season, from November to February. It is, however, the tourist season.

During your Myanmar tours, many of the activities you can do will depend on the geography of the country and its climate. Try to prepare yourself accordingly.