|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, January 4.
|RNature and climate:|N A mountainchain in the west form a natural border to India and Bangladesh. Highest peak, Victoria, reaches 3053 m.a.s.l.
In the east mountains form a natural border towards Thailand, Laos and China.
Between these mountains the navigable Irrawaddy River and its subsidiaries forms the Myanmar mainland with vast plains and a vast delta at the outlet in the Indian Ocean. In the southern parts there are rainforests on the mountains and in the northern parts there are mixed forests and savannahs. In the delta mangrove forests and the plains are cultivated.
The fauna is rich with elephants, rhinocerus, tigers and leopards and many species of birds.
Average temperature throughout the year between 25 and 30°C Except in the northern mountains with about 15°C in January.
Percipitation between 3000 and 5000 mm in the coastal mountains and between 700 and 1000 mm in the interior.
|RPeople:|N There are more than 60 different ethnic groups. Burmans 60%, related to the Tibetanians, is the biggest group. They live in the Irrawaddy plains. In the mountains there are mountaintribes of which Shan 9%, Karen 7%, and Raljome 4% are the biggest.
|REconomy:|N 66% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture, 14% in industry, 10% in trade and 7% in government.
Most important crops are paddy, beans, pulses, maize, oilseeds, rice and rubber. Burma is also a big illegal producer of opium and cannabis for the international drug trade.
Stockraizing and forestry are important industries.
Myanmar have many mineral resources as oil, lead, silver, tin, tungsten and precious stones.
Most important industries are agricultural processing, textiles and footwear, wood and wood products.
With all these natural resources Myanmar once was one of the richest countries in South East Asia, but due to the socialist policy since 1962 and a self-imposed international isolation, there has been economic stagnation in Myanmar and the country is now one of the poorest in South East Asia.
|RHistory:|N The Burmese people immigrated from Tibet before the 9th century and Burma was established as an independent Buddhist monarchy in the 11th century.
In 1272 it was conquered by the Mongol empire and then ruled as a Chinese satellite state until the 16th century.
During the western colonization period the French and the British fought about Burma. The French had the upper hand but the British conquered Burma in a series of three wars 1824, 1852 and 1885.
From the beginning Burma was made a part of the British raj of India but became a self-governing British protectorate in 1937.
Burma was under Japanese occupation during World War II.
In 1948 Burma achieved independence as the Union of Burma.
In 1962 a military coup ousted the democratic government and established an one-party socialist state.
From the late 1980:s there has been numerous popular demonstrations and direct military rule was declared in 1988.
In 1990 the first multiparty free elections in three decades were held and the opposition led by Aung San Sun Kyi won a decisive victory, but the results were not recognized by the military and the leaders of the elected government were placed under house arrest.
In 1991 Aung San Sun Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
