GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal,
between Bangladesh and Thailand
Map
references: Southeast Asia
Area:
total
area: 678,500 sq km
land
area: 657,740 sq km
comparative
area: slightly smaller than Texas
Land
boundaries: total 5,876 km, Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185
km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
Coastline:
1,930 km
Maritime
claims:
contiguous
zone: 24 nm
continental
shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive
economic zone: 200 nm
territorial
sea: 12 nm
International
disputes: none
Climate:
tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest
monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild
temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon,
December to April)
Terrain:
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
Natural
resources: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper,
tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones,
natural gas
Land
use:
arable
land: 15%
permanent
crops: 1%
meadows
and pastures: 1%
forest
and woodland: 49%
other:
34%
Irrigated
land: 10,180 sq km (1989)
Environment:
current
issues: deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil,
and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute
to disease
natural
hazards: destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding
and landslides common during rainy season (June to September);
periodic droughts
international
agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber
83; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
