Laos: Geography#
Location | Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam |
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Geographic Coordinates | 18 00 N, 105 00 E 18.0,105.0 |
Area | total: 236,800 sq km land: 230,800 sq km water: 6,000 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
Land boundaries | total: 5,083 km border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km |
Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) |
Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Mekong River 70 m highest point: Phu Bia 2,817 m |
Highest Mountains | Due to difference in mountain rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: Phou Bia 2830 m According to Geonames: Phou Xai Lai Leng 2700 m; Phou San 2218 m; Phou Soaydao 2102 m; Phou Pan-Gnai 2079 m; Phou Khè 2079 m Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org |
Terrain | mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus |
Natural Hazards | floods, droughts |
Natural Resource | timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones |
Land Use | arable land: 5.91% permanent crops: 0.42% other: 93.67% (2011) |
Climate | tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April) |
Irrigated Land | 3,100 sq km (2005) |
Renewable Water Resources | 333.5 cu km (2011) |
Environment_CurrentIssues | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water |
Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Large Cities | Vientiane; Pakxe; Savannakhet; Luang Prabang; Xam Nua [Verified] Important Cities |
Geography-note | landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand |