Location: |
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
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Geographic coordinates: |
22 00 N, 98 00 E
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Map references: |
Southeast Asia
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Area: |
total:
678,500 sq km
land:
657,740 sq km
water:
20,760 sq km
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Area - comparative: |
slightly smaller than Texas
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Land boundaries: |
total:
5,876 km
border countries:
Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km
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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
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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)
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Terrain: |
central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point:
Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m
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Natural resources: |
petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower
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Land use: |
arable land:
15%
permanent crops:
1%
permanent pastures:
1%
forests and woodland:
49%
other:
34% (1993 est.)
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Irrigated land: |
10,680 sq km (1993 est.)
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Natural hazards: |
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts
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Environment - current issues: |
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease
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Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note: |
strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes
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