The Western Yoma, known
popularly as the Rakhaing Yoma, comprises a series of hills belonging
to the south-eastern extension of the Himalaya. Up north are the hills of
the southern extension which form the Patkoi Range.
As they go south they
raise the Saramati mountain 3767 m (12557'), followed by the hills of
Manipura, the Lushai hills, and the Chin hills, where the steep slopes and
precarious trails divide the population into various tribes speaking
different dialects. Saramati is sometimes snow-covered and is seen from
the Chindwin River as a great cone rising from the dark forests of the
intervening ranges.
The coastline from the Naaf River in the
north to the Thandwe River midway down the coast is broken into numerous
low islands by a network of estuaries of creeks and mountain torrents,
From Thandwe down to Mawtin-zoon Point, the coastline feature changes to
rugged and rocky spurs, offshoots of the Rakhaing Yoma, jutting boldly
into the sea to form precipitous headlands. Between them are
shell-spangled bays of golden sand and lengthy, level beaches forming
quiet resorts with the sparkling Bay ahead and the lush tropical forest
behind.
The coastal plain is
narrow and not continuous as the hills reach down to the edge of the sea
in many places. The rivers, except those in the Sittwe area are short
mountain streams. The rivers are the Naaf, Mayu, Kisspanadi and Leymro.
The only sizeable plain is the one formed by these rivers.
The Baronga islands in the north are three
narrow, elongated islands which are really detached ranges of hills
running into the sea.
Further south are two big islands, Rarmree
and Cheduba, Ramree seems to be a raised archipelago with hills
occasionally rising to 150 m (500'), clad with jungle. The west
coast has beaches of shingle, sand and sea-shells, and old
sea-cliffs.
Cheduba or Manaung, south of Ramree is a
wooded island of low, undulating hills which rise in the south to 4200 m.
(1400')
The Rakhaing coast has at least three lovely
beach resorts at Ngapali, Chaung tha and Kannthaya.
The average temperature is about 29 C in the
warm season and about 21 C in the cool season. The whole region is backed up by mountain ranges.
As it lies directly in the path of the rain-bearing south-west monsoon,
rainfall is heavy. Sittwe receives about 515.5 cm (201"), Kyaukpyu
487.7 cm (190") and Thandwe 543.6 cm (210") of rain. Storms
originating in the Andaman Sea or Bay of Bengal occasionally hit the
coast.
The Yoma forms an effective barrier between
Rakhaing and the Central Basin. But there are three passes linking the two
regions. The An pass is the link to Central Myanmar;
the Taungup pass is the middle link and the Gwa pass further south is the
link with the Delta. Now the Sittwe-Yangon highway will link the chief
town of the north with the country's capital. It will go over the
Yoma via An, Minbya, MroukU, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun to Sittwe. The many
streams lying across the highway will require the construction of 897
small bridges and nine big ones of which three have been
completed.
The Yoma contains extended stands of
valuable hardwood and expansive areas of wild bamboo. Wild elephants roam
the jungle and tigers drink the pools where deer come. An occasional
black
bear
roams.
Many rational races inhabit
Rakhaing,
especially in the north. These include Rakhaing, Bama, Chin, Kaman,
Khamwee, Daingnet, Myo, Thet and Maramagyee.
Rakhaing has a tong recorded history and
there are many interesting historical sites which are now becoming
increasingly accessible to visitors.
M
ove north from Rakhaing and one enters the Chin Hills from the
south. The whole region is of high hills with deep valleys nestling among
them. This is hardly any plain or plateau. The heights of the hills vary
between 1500 m (4950') and 2700 m (8910'). The highest peak here is
Mt Victoria 3120 m (10200'). The Chin hills form the southern limb of the
Himalaya extension together with the Lushai hills, the Manipur hills, the
hills of Naga country, the Patkoi hills and the hills of Assam.
The Manipur River which rises in the Manipur
hills and the Kaladan which flows through Rakhaing to enter the Bay are
the important rivers of the region. The Myittha River flows from south to
north in the Chin Hills region just outside the state line, Yaw, Salin and
Mu all take their source in the Chin hills and flow into the Ayeyawady.
Between the altitudes of 900 m (3000') and
1500 m (4950'), the climate is temperate. At Tiddim the average summer
temperature is 20.50 ½, the winter temperature 13.3C. Places in the Chin
hills are generally colder than those on the Shan highlands. The amount of rainfall varies with a
general decrease toward the interior Haka receives 230-255 cm
(89.7"-99.5"), Tiddim about 100-130 cm (39"-50.7").
Teak and other hardwoods are found to a
height of 900 m. Above this are oaks, then pines at 1500 m. The pine here
is pinus Khasya, the best resin-producing pine.
Monkey is found here, loris and barking deer
too. The goral lives on the heights and the badger underground. The mythum
or wild ox has been domesticated.
Travelling is difficult but the roads are
being upgraded, airports extended and a rail line from central Myanmar is
headed for the foothills.
Oranges, apples, coffee, mulberry, honey and
resin are important products.
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The Western Yoma, known
popularly as the Rakhaing Yoma, comprises a series of hills belonging
to the south-eastern extension of the Himalaya. Up north are the hills of
the southern extension which form the Patkoi Range.