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- <text id=94CT0800><title>Laos—Geography</title>
- <article><source>CIA Factbook</source>
- <hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Laos<nl>Geography</hdr><body>
- <list>
- <item><hi format=bold>Location:</hi> Southeastern Asia, between Vietnam and Thailand
- <item><hi format=bold>Area:</hi>
- <list style=hang>
- <item>• <hi format=ital>total area:</hi> 236,800 sq km
- <item>• <hi format=ital>land area:</hi> 230,800 sq km
- <item>• <hi format=ital>comparative area:</hi> slightly larger than Utah
- </list>
- <item><hi format=bold>Land boundaries:</hi> total 5,083 km, Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km
- <item><hi format=bold>Coastline:</hi> 0 km (landlocked)
- <item><hi format=bold>Maritime claims:</hi> none; landlocked
- <item><hi format=bold>International disputes:</hi> boundary dispute with Thailand
- <item><hi format=bold>Climate:</hi> tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
- <item><hi format=bold>Terrain:</hi> mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus
- <item><hi format=bold>Natural resources:</hi> timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
- <item><hi format=bold>Land use:</hi>
- <list style=hang>
- <item>• <hi format=ital>arable land:</hi> 4%
- <item>• <hi format=ital>permanent crops:</hi> 0%
- <item>• <hi format=ital>meadows and pastures:</hi> 3%
- <item>• <hi format=ital>forest and woodland:</hi> 58%
- <item>• <hi format=ital>other:</hi> 35%
- </list>
- <item><hi format=bold>Irrigated land:</hi> 1,200 sq km (1989 est.)
- <item><hi format=bold>Environment:</hi>
- <list style=hang>
- <item>• <hi format=ital>current issues:</hi> deforestation; soil erosion
- <item>• <hi format=ital>natural hazards:</hi> subject to floods, drought, and blight
- <item>• <hi format=ital>international agreements:</hi> party to—Environmental Modification, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified—Law of the Sea
- </list>
- <item><hi format=bold>Note:</hi> landlocked
- </list></body></article></text>
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