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The Beauty of Myanmar (Burma)
'Quite
unlike any land you know about' -
Rudyard Kipling
The fascinating land of Burma has
been hidden from the world, ensuring
that its beauty and charm have
remained unspoilt. Now welcoming
visitors, it is an intriguing
country and much of its appeal to
travellers lies in the way it has
been unaffected by modern
developments. Burma (also known
as Myanmar) is a jewel that has
remained hidden for decades, but
which is now opening up to the world
revealing astonishing natural beauty
and an unparalleled cultural
heritage.
With a
civilization that's more than 2,500
years old, Burma is a mysterious and
magical land with magnificent temple
architecture set in timeless and
sublime landscapes.
Everywhere a
visitor travels in Burma, they will
encounter hospitable, inquisitive
and friendly people more than
willing to share their fascinating
culture.
Geography: Burma's coastline defines the eastern
shore of the Bay of Bengal, running from the Bangladesh
border in the northwest down to the Malay Peninsula and
Thai territory in the southeast. Southern Burma consists
largely of the western slopes of the Bilauktaung Range,
which constitutes the northern base of the Malay
Peninsula. Northern Burma, which comprises the great
bulk of the country's area, consists largely of the
broad river valley of the Irrawaddy. Originating high up
in the very eastern extremity of the Himalayas, the
Irrawaddy rushes down through great mountain gorges in
northern Burma before spreading out into one of the
largest river deltas in Asia. Both of Burma's principal
cities--Rangoon and Mandalay--are situated along the
Irrawaddy, and the 1,000 mi (1,600 km) river is
navigable for almost two thirds of its length. The
Irrawaddy valley is surrounded by a great horseshoe of
mountain ranges, which rise in the east to the highlands
of the Shan Plateau.
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