CIA Factbook The World Factbook 1994: BurmaGeography Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand 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 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 • natural hazards: subject to destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September) • international agreements: party to—Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber; signed, but not ratified—Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes