Geography

Go 2050 km (1270 mi) directly south from Khakabo Razi and get to Bayinnaung point, Myanmar's land's end. A statue of Bayinnaung, one of Myanmar's great kings, looks over the water. This is the end of the Taninthayi coastal strip, a narrow 375 km (232 mi) coastal plain running up to mountains generally known as the Taninthayi Yoma, which is a continuation of the Shan highlands. It consists of a series of parallel ranges seperated by deep valleys. Dawna is the eastern range while the western ranges are known in different areas as the Muttama ridge, Taungnyo ridge, and Tanintharyi ridge. The parallel ranges have a breadth of about 96 km (60 mi). The highest peak is Myinmolekhat at 2040 m (6800'). These mountains are older in age than the Rakhaing Yoma of the Western coastal Strip. The coast itself is cut into islands by the channels of rivers which divide as they prepare to enter the sea. A large and well populated island is Bilugyun in the Thanlwin River; but most small islands down the coast are morasses of mangrove and slime. The islands off the coast rise well from the sea, some as high as 600 m. (2000'), while others are a few hundred feet high. They are the upper parts of submerged mountain rages and are clad with thick tropical vegetation or are bare rock. They form a string of islands, from the north, the Heinze group, the Mounmagan group, the Launglon group, the Myeik Archipelago. Some of the familiar islands of the Myeik group are Mali Letsutaw, Owen Katherine, Carrie, Lampi, Pale, Zadetgyi, Zadetgale. Some names are Myanmar now while some retain their English names, though there are local names too. King Island, the largest rises to 755 m. (2515') while Domei to 670 m. (2230'). Edible bird's nest is gathered from some islands. The process of island formation goes on, some being formed with a narrow srait connecting two arms of the sea and dividing the two islands. Tidal waves and mai. The erosion deepen the channel and a regular connection is formed which small boats can navigate. The local term is 'galet'. There are many galets south of Myeik. The Taninthayi coastal strip has a tropical monsoon climate. The dry season here is much shorter and the rainfall greater than the rest of the country. Dawe has an average rainfall of over 500 cm. (195") and about 145 rainy days a year, compared with 262 cm (102") and about 125 days in Yangon. Several rivers flow down the hills into the sea. They are the Ye, Dawe, the Palauk, Palaw, the Greater Taninthayi, the Lesser Taninthayi, Lenyar and the Pakchan which forms the boundary with Thailand. Hot springs are plentiful in this region. The Yebu is the hottest, almost reaching boiling point. The Maliwun springs are more accessible, and used as a health resort. The water contains iron, alumina, lime, potash soda, silicon, hydrochloride, sulphuric acid and nitrogenous organic matter. There are valuable stands of teak and hardwood on the mountains. Croplands between the hills and the sea support plantations of rubber, oil palm and equatorial fruits such as durian, mangosteen, jackfruit, rambusteen. Coconut and 'dhani' nipa palm flourish along the coast. The mountains and high valleys are well populated with macaque, monkey, gibbon, loris, wild boar, deer, gaur, goral, black bear and elephant. The great thawka (Amherstia nobilis) is native to this region. A road runs from Maulamyaing through Ye and Dawe to Myeik and on to Bokpyin. A railway is being laid down by Tatmadaw personnel from Ye to Dawe over bridges across Ye and Dawe Chaungs. Dawe, Myeik, Kawthaung have airlinks with other towns.Fish ngapi (fish paste), dried prawns, shrimps, crayfish, rubber, timber, tin, tungsten are exported. Maungmagan with its broad and lengthy beach is a developing resort. Thahtaykyun, opposite Thailand's Ranaung, is popular with foreign tourists arriving direct from Thailand. It operates a casino. Another hotel casino is coming up on Noagyi and Noahlay islands in the same group. Though the population is mainly Bama, the language is spoken with a distinct accent and different idiom. There are also Kayin and Mon. + Back to top