Laos Geography Profile 2000

Location

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total:236,800 sq km
land:230,800 sq km
water:6,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Utah

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)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Terrain

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation extremes

lowest point:Mekong River 70 m
highest point:Phou Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use

arable land:3%
permanent crops:0%
permanent pastures:3%
forests and woodland:54%
other:40% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land

1,250 sq km (1993 est.)
note:rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards

floods, droughts, and blight

Environment - current issues

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to:Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography - note

landlocked