Geography of Laos

The Laos is a landlocked country of Southeast Asia, between the Thailand with south-west and the Vietnam in the east, the Myanmar and the China in north, and the Kampuchea in the south. Its situation often made a State-plug between its neighbors of it, as well as a commercial crossroads.

Topography and relief

Most of the Western border of Laos is delimited by the Mekong, which is also an important transportation route, although the falls of Khong Phapheng in the south of the country prevent the access to the sea.

The Eastern border with Vietnam extends on: 2130 km, mainly along the annamitic Cordillera. It is also about a cultural border between the part of the Southeast Asia under Chinese cultural influence and the share under Indian influence like Laos and Thailand.

The relief of Laos is largely escarpé, with narrow valleys, and the Agriculture is difficult there. Most of the north of the country is mountainous except for the level of Vientiane and the Plaine of the Earthenware jars in the Province of Xieng Khuang.

The Queue of stove which constitutes the southern half of Laos is more punt, more adapted to the culture of the Riz and the breeding, except the oriental party. The alluvial flat and the terraces cover approximately 20% of the entire surface of the country.

Only 4% of the grounds are cultivable. The Forêt S appreciably regressed since the Années 1970. Their retreat is a cause of increased erosion of the grounds, and downstream from silting of the rivers.

Climate

The Climat of Laos tropical, is influenced by the Mousson, with one wet season from May to October, one cold dry season from November to February and a season dries hot in March and April.

The Plateau of Bolovens receives most important precipitations, with an average of: 3700 mm per annum - against: 1440 mm with Savannakhét: 1700 mm with Vientiane and: 1360 mm with Luang Prabang. The quantity of precipitation can however clearly vary from one year to another.

The temperatures oscillate between 40°C along Mekong in March and April with 5°C, even less, on the heights of Xiangkhoang and Phôngsali in January.

Natural resources

The Laotian Forêt S are an important source of game, medicinal herbs and of structural timber. Since the Years 1980, the government tries to preserve these resources and to limit the exploitation of it.

The other resources are the hydraulic power, the Gypse, the tin, the Or and the invaluable stones.

Statistics

Exploitation of the ground:

arable lands: 3%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 3%
forests: 54% (are. 1993)

irrigated Grounds:

in rain season: 2 ' 169 km
in season dry: 750 km

Environment

environmental Problems: not exploded mines, Deforestation, erosion, lack of access to the Drinking water.

Natural disasters: floods, Dryness, Mildew.

International treaties on the environment:

Left with: biodiversity, climate changes, turning into a desert, right of the sea, prohibition of the nuclear tests, protection of the layer of ozone.

See too

References

the CIA World Factbook

Random links: