5 Facts of Myanmar(Burma)

The capital of Myanmar(Burma) is Yangon

 

The Nation of Burma is presently known as Myanmar, and is the westernmost country in Southeast Asia. The renaming of the country remains in dispute, with some countries recognizing it and others still referring to the country as Burma. The capital city of Rangoon is now known as Yangon. The strategic location of Burma, bordering India, Bangladesh, the Tibet and Yunnan areas of China, Thailand, and Laos, will always keep the nation in the news. During World War II the country played a key role in blocking Japanese expansion and supplying allied and Chinese forces. Since the military coup of 1962, virtually all aspects of life have been controlled by the government, many political prisoners remain in jail, and sporadic clashes with ethnic groups continue. In 2010 a civilian government was formed but changes remain to be seen.

5 Facts You Might Not Know

1

With a population of over 58 million, Burma is one of the most populous countries in Asia with a mix of several ethnic groups. Most people live within the fertile Irrawaddy River Valley, where plenty of rice is cultivated.

2

Burma has 1200 miles of uninterrupted coastline, extending from the Andaman Sea on the south to the Bay of Bengal in the southwest.

3

Burma is among the poorest nations in the world, with a minimal health care system and no economic progress since a military coup in 1962. Burma has one of the worst human rights records in the world, where human trafficking, child labor, and lack of basic freedoms are common. The nation now remains far behind the living standards enjoyed in other Asian nations.

4

British colonial rule lasted from 1889 to Burmese independence in 1948, transforming and modernizing the social fabric of this feudal country.

5

With an elevation of over 19 thousand feet, Hkakabo Razi is the highest peak in Burma.