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Myanmar is one of the largest countries in South East Asia, stretching over 2,000 km from North to South.

It is twice the size of Vietnam, over a quarter larger than Thailand, and Myanmar is bigger than England and France combined.

Myanmar's coastline defines the eastern shore of the Bay of Bengal, running from the Bangladesh border in the northwest
down to the Malay Peninsula and Thai territory in the southeast. Southern Myanmar consists largely of the western slopes of the Bilauktaung Range,
which constitutes the northern base of the Malay Peninsula.

Northern Myanmar, which comprises the great bulk of the country's area, consists largely of the broad river valley of the Irrawaddy.
Originating high up in the very eastern extremity of the Himalayas, the Irrawaddy rushes down through great mountain gorges in northern
Myanmarbefore spreading out into one of the largest river deltas in Asia.

Both of Myanmar's principal cities--Yangon and Mandalay--are situated along the Irrawaddy, and the 1,000 mi (1,600 km) river is navigable for almost two thirds of its length.
The Irrawaddy valley is surrounded by a great horseshoe of mountain ranges, which rise in the east to the highlands of the Shan Plateau.