The   eastern region of Myanmar consists of highlands known as the Shan plateau, although the "plateau" is formed by a succession of mountain chains of varied relief and generally of rounded outlines. These are much older than the western mountains and are part of the Indo-Malaysia block of ancient rocks which form the core of the Southeast Asian peninsula. The average height of the Shan Plateau is 900 m (3000') and rises abruptly from the Central Basin. The ranges are generally aligned north-south and the highest peak in the Loiling range is 2630 m (8770') above sea level. The general elevation is about 900 m' - 1200 m (4000') and is continuous with the Yunnan highland. The Shan massif is continued into Kayah and further southwarld into the Kayin and Mon states. There are some structural basins formed as a result of folding or faulting forming several lakes which have silted up and become dry land like the Heho plain, the Kyaington plain and Theinni plain. The only lake of importance remaining is the Inle Lake.

The Inle Lake is about 19 km (11 mi) long and 6.4 km (4 mi) broad at an elevation of 875 m (2915'). Its depth in March is nowhere greater than 3.6 m (12') while at the end of the rainy season its greatest depth would be 6.0 m (20'). It is fed mainly by the Nam Lap from the north and the Heho and Nyansin from the west. The lake is surrounded by floating islands formed from the growth and decay of vegetation which form a mass. The vegetation consists primarily of large grasses and sedges which capture floating plants such as duckweed. At the same time submerged weeds grow up to the surface where their upper parts are killed by the heat of the sun. A floating island covered with rich soil is thus formed and a variety of plants can now be cultivated, such as tomato and cucumber and flowering orchids. The water flows out of the lake by the Biluchaung which, after passing the Mobye Dam, finally cascades to turn the turbines of Lawpita.

The Thanlwin rises in the mountains of eastern Tibet and is known there as the Blue River because just before it freezes in winter, it is a most beautiful dark blue in color. For a large part of its course it is hemmed in between the Ayeyawady and Mekong. This region is interesting because within a width of 320 km (200 mi) flow six rivers in parallel: the two feeders of the Ayeyawady, and the Thanlwin which ultimately flow into the Gulf of Muttama, the Mekong which finds its way into the South China Sea, while the Yangtze and its tributary, the Wuliang Ho debouch into the eastern China Sea. The Thanlwin, Mekong and Yangtze each drain large areas, but in Tibet they approach within 48 km (30 mi) of each other and flow through a mountain zone only 77 km (48 mi) wide. After entering Myanmar the Thanlwin flows in a general north to south direction like a gigantic trough with unimportant bends. [very where the hills rise 900m - I 500m (3000'-5000') above the level of water on both banks. There is flat land on the banks only when it enters lower Myanmar in the Kayin State. There are paths here and there along the river, sometimes for many miles, but can seldom be used. The difference between high and low water levels could be as much as 18-21 m (60~-70~). There are many rapids in the river so that local boats can navigate only short stretches in the dry season, River launches ply the lower reaches of the river between Mawlamyaing and Kamamaung for 118 km (74 mi).

The Takaw-at suspension bridge over the Thanlwin in the Shan State was opened to traffic on Union Day, 1997, while the steel-frame bridge at Pa-an in Kayin State was opened in July 1997

Thanlwin tributaries Thaungyin, which serves as part of the boundary with Thailand, Donthami, Gyaing and Attaran are navigable for some distance. Below Mawlamyaing the river is bifurcated by the big island of Bilugyan and then enters the Gulf of Muttama. The northern mouth is the Dayebauk River, the southern is the Mawlamyaing River. With good pilotage, ocean-going vessels can anchor at Mawlamyaing. This port exports rice, timber, rubber, marine products, fruits and products of small industry.

There are many limestone caves in the Mawlamyaing area. Kharon is 16 km (10 mi) from the city. Dhammathat is 30 km (19 mi) up the river Gyaing, and contains 1000 images of Buddha. Hsaddan Cave is 24 km (15 mi) from Paan. In the Shan highlands, the most famous is Pindaya Cave, accessible from Taungyi via Aung Ban. The entrance is on the side of a hill, and penetralia inside the grotto consist of a richly gilt pagoda and thousands of Buddha images, some of stuccos, other carved into the stone sides of the cave which is of considerable length with a stream running underground. Padalin Cave in the Shan State is where implements of the Old Stone Age and cave drawings have been found.

Temperature in the highlands are much lower than in the Central Basin. The winter temperature is about 1 Soc and the summer about 200C. The chief source of rain is the south-west monsoon. The southern part is wetter than the north. Taungyi receives about 150 cm (58.5") and Lashio 140 cm (54.6"). On the whole it is not too wet, not too hot, not too cold. The Shan highland is particularly attractive when it is 400C in the plains.

There are silver; lead, zinc, antimony, gold and precious stones in those hills. Tea, potato, orange, onion, beans and pulses, groundnut, sunflower; tobacco grow there.

Teak, padauk, pyinkado, pyinma, ingyin and thitya flourish under 900 m (3000'); above that there are pines and oaks. Monkeys, gibbons, black bears and badgers are found together with smaller animals. The eastern highlands are an anthropologist's paradise. There are Shan, Kachin Lisu Kayah, Kayin, Padaung, Intha, Pa-O, Palaung, Kwi, Akha, Kokang, Wa, Gon, Taungyoe, Danu, Myaungzi, Yingjar Yinnet, Lahu, Kayaw, Manu-Manaw, Yindaw, Bama. Inle Lake and Pindaya cave are places to visit in the Taungyi region while farther south in continuation of the highlands stands the surprising Pagoda on the Golden Rock at Kyaikhtiyo which is accessible by driving up hill bi people in a hurry or by an 11 km (7-mi) trek through lovely scenery with occasional steep climbs. The environs of the Pagoda should also be explored.