For many centuries the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar has been known for its strong Buddhist culture. Once called Burma, Myanmar was ruled by Britain from 1885 to 1948. For much of the period after gaining independence, the country has been controlled by strict military governments. The capital is Yangon (Rangoon).
Myanmar covers an area of 261,228 square miles (676,577 square kilometers). It is bordered to the south and southwest by the Bay of Bengal, the Gulf of Martaban, and the Andaman Sea. Bangladesh and part of India are to the northwest. China, Laos, and Thailand lie from north to south on the eastern border. The southern portion of the country is a long, narrow strip of land than runs down the Malay Peninsula.
Myanmar is a mountainous country. The Kumon Range in the north contains the country's highest peak, Mount Hkakabo at 19,296 feet (5,881 meters). The western part of the country consists of a series of lower mountain ranges. Eastern Myanmar is covered by the Shan Plateau, where some peaks rise higher than 8,500 feet (2,600 meters). Lying between the Shan Plateau and the western mountains are the central lowlands. In this region is the densely populated, fertile deltas of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) and Sittang rivers. Myanmar has a tropical climate. Most of the country receives heavy rainfall, almost all in summer.
Forests cover about half of Myanmar. Evergreen rain forests are common in the regions where rainfall is greatest. Areas with less rainfall have forests made up of trees that lose their leaves during the dry season. Teak is the best known of these trees.
Animal life is plentiful in Myanmar. The rain forests support a variety of birds, snakes, and mammals such as gibbons and monkeys. Tigers and elephants are important though endangered animals. Bears live in the hills.
People known as Burmans make up the majority of the population in Myanmar. The country's other ethnic groups include the Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Mon, Chin, and Kachin. Many Indian and Chinese people also live in Myanmar. Burmese is the official language, but minority groups have their own languages.
Most of the people of Myanmar practice Buddhism. The religion is reflected throughout the country's culture. Myanmar is especially well known for its beautiful Buddhist temples and monasteries.
Myanmar is a land of villages. Almost three quarters of the people live in rural areas. The country's few large cities include Yangon (Rangoon), Mandalay, and Moulmein.
Myanmar is a poor country. About two thirds of the workforce is employed in agriculture. The main crop is rice. Sugarcane, pulses, peanuts (groundnuts), corn (maize), and cotton are also grown. Cattle, pigs, goats, buffalo, and poultry are kept as livestock. Fishing is important as a source of both food and exports. Teak and other hardwoods are also exported.
Industry is only a small part of Myanmar's economy. Cement, processed foods, and fertilizer are among the main manufactured goods. Myanmar has rich mineral deposits, including copper, lead, tin, tungsten, silver, jade, and gemstones. Oil and natural gas are also produced.
People have lived in the Myanmar region for thousands of years. In the 1st century BC a group of people known as the Pyu began establishing cities in the north. To the south lived the Mon people. In the 9th century the Burmans developed a powerful kingdom centered on the city of Pagan. By the mid-11th century the Burman ruler Anawrahta had united much of present-day Myanmar into a single kingdom. The kingdom became a center of Buddhist culture. An invasion by the Mongols led to the breakup of the kingdom in the 13th century.
In the mid-18th century a king named Alaungpaya united Myanmar once again. When the kingdom tried to expand, it came into conflict with the British, who ruled India at the time. In the 19th century Britain and Myanmar fought three wars known as the Anglo-Burmese Wars. In 1885 Britain took control of the whole region. From 1886 to 1937 the British governed it as a province of India. They called the province Burma.
The Japanese occupied Burma during World War II. After Japan was defeated in 1945, Burma returned to British rule. Britain granted Burma independence in 1948.
Military officers seized control of Burma in 1962. The general behind the military takeover, Ne Win, became the country's leader. He brought most of the economy under the government's control. He also encouraged the development of industry. His policies were unsuccessful. By the late 1980s Burma was one of the world's poorest countries.
These problems led to protests against the government. The military stopped the protests with force. In 1988, however, Ne Win resigned from office. The next year the government changed the country's name from Burma to Myanmar. The change was an attempt to quiet protests by ethnic groups other than the majority Burmans. Political parties opposed to the government won elections in 1990, but the army refused to hand over power. Struggles between the military government and opposition groups continued through the 1990s and into the 21st century. Population (2001 estimate), 41,995,000.
