View source for Geography of Laos

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[[Image:La-map.png|right|thumb]]
[[Image:Laos 2003 CIA map.jpg|thumb|right]]
[[Laos]] is a [[landlocked country]] in [[mainland Southeast Asia]]. It covers approximately 236,800 square kilometers and is surrounded by [[Myanmar]], [[Cambodia]], [[China]], [[Thailand]], and [[Vietnam]].

About 70% of its geographic area is made up of mountain ranges, highlands, plateaus, and rivers cut through.<ref name="Savada 1995">{{Harvnb|Savada|1995|p=81}}.</ref>

==Topography==
{{See also|List of mountains in Laos}}
Most of the western border of [[Laos]] is demarcated by the [[Mekong]] river, which is an artery for transportation.<ref name="Savada 1995" /> The Dong Falls at the southern end of the country prevent access to the sea, and cargo boats travel along the entire length of the Mekong in Laos during most of the year.<ref name="Savada 1995" /> Smaller power boats and [[pirogue]]s provide an important means of transportation on many of the tributaries of the Mekong.<ref name="Savada 1995" />

Prior to the twentieth century, kingdoms and principalities encompassed areas on both sides of the Mekong, and Thai control in the nineteenth century extended to the left bank.<ref name="Savada 1995" /> While the Mekong was established as a border by French colonial forces, travel from 1 side to the other has been more limited since the establishment of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR, or Laos) in 1975.<ref name="Savada 1995" />

The eastern border with Vietnam extends for 2,130 kilometres, mostly along the crest of the Annamite Chain, and serves as a physical barrier between the Chinese-influenced culture of Vietnam and the Indianized states of Laos and Thailand.<ref name="Savada 1995" /> These mountains are populated by tribal minorities who traditionally have not acknowledged the border with Vietnam any more than lowland Lao have been constrained by the 1,754-kilometre Mekong River border with Thailand.<ref name="Savada 1995" /> Thus, ethnic minority populations are found on both the Laotian and Vietnamese sides of the frontier.<ref name="Savada 1995" /> Because of their "relative isolation", contact between these groups and lowland Lao has been mostly confined to trading.<ref name="Savada 1995" />

Laos shares a 541 kilometres—southern border with Cambodia, and Khmer ruins at Wat Pho and other southern locations attest to the history of contact between the Lao and the Khmer.<ref name="Savada 1995" /> In the north, the country is bounded by a 423-kilometre border with China and shares the 235-kilometre-long Mekong River border with [[Myanmar]].<ref name="Savada 1995" />

The topography of Laos is "largely mountainous", with the [[Annamite Range]] in the northeast and east and the [[Luang Prabang Range]] in the northwest, among other ranges typically characterized by "steep terrain".<ref name="Savada 1995-2">{{Harvnb|Savada|1995|p=82}}.</ref> Elevations are typically above 500 metres with river valleys.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" /> This landscape extends across most of the north of the country, except for the plain of Vientiane and the [[Plain of Jars]] in the [[Xiangkhoang Plateau]].<ref name="Savada 1995-2" />

The southern "panhandle" of the country contains areas in Savannakhét and Champasak provinces that are more suited for paddy rice cultivation and livestock raising.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" /> Most of Khammouan Province and the eastern part of all the southern provinces are "mountainous".<ref name="Savada 1995-2" /> Together, the alluvial plains and terraces of the Mekong and its tributaries cover about 20% of the land area.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" />

About 4% of the total land area is classified as arable.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" /> The forested land area has declined since the 1970s as a result of commercial logging and expanded [[swidden]], or [[slash-and-burn]], farming.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" />

==Climate==
[[File:Koppen-Geiger_Map_v2_LAO_1991–2020.svg|thumb|Laos Köppen climate classification]]
[[Image:Climate Vientiane.svg|thumb|Climate data for [[Vientiane]]]]

Laos has a tropical climate, with a rainy season from May through October, a cool dry season from November through February, and a hot dry season in March and April.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" /> Generally, monsoons occur at the same time across the country, while that time may vary from 1 year to the next.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" />

Rainfall varies regionally, with the highest amounts—{{convert|3,700|mm|in|abbr=off|sp=us}} annually—recorded on the [[Bolaven Plateau]] in Champasak Province.<ref>{{Harvnb|Savada|1995|p=83}}.</ref> City rainfall stations have recorded that Savannakhét averages {{convert|1,440|mm|in|abbr=off|sp=us}} of rain annually; Vientiane receives about {{convert|1,700|mm|in|abbr=off|sp=us}}, and Louangphrabang ([[Luang Prabang]]) receives about {{convert|1,360|mm|in|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" />

Rainfall is not always adequate for rice cultivation and the average precipitation conceals years where rainfall may be half or less of the norm, causing declines in rice yields.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" /> Such droughts sometimes are regional, leaving production in other parts of the country unaffected.<ref name="Savada 1995-2" />

The average temperatures in January, coolest month, are, Luang Prabang 20.5&nbsp;°C (minimum 0.8&nbsp;°C), Vientiane 20.3&nbsp;°C (minimum 3.3&nbsp;°C), and Pakse 23.9&nbsp;°C (minimum 7.8&nbsp;°C); the average temperatures for April, usually the hottest month, are, Luang Prabang 28.1&nbsp;°C (maximum 44.8&nbsp;°C), Vientiane 42.5&nbsp;°C. Temperature does vary according to the altitude, there is an average drop of 1.7&nbsp;°C for every 1000 feet (or 300 meters). Temperatures in the upland plateux and in the mountains are considered lower than on the plains around Vientiane.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laos climate: average weather, temperature, precipitation, when to go |url=https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/laos |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=www.climatestotravel.com}}</ref>

{{Weather box
| location = Vientiane (1981–2010)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 36.0
| Feb record high C = 38.0
| Mar record high C = 40.0
| Apr record high C = 41.4
| May record high C = 42.5
| Jun record high C = 39.5
| Jul record high C = 39.0
| Aug record high C = 37.2
| Sep record high C = 37.5
| Oct record high C = 36.8
| Nov record high C = 36.0
| Dec record high C = 36.0
| year record high C = 42.5
| Jan high C = 28.7
| Feb high C = 30.8
| Mar high C = 33.1
| Apr high C = 34.6
| May high C = 33.1
| Jun high C = 32.2
| Jul high C = 31.6
| Aug high C = 31.2
| Sep high C = 31.3
| Oct high C = 31.2
| Nov high C = 30.1
| Dec high C = 28.3
| year high C = 31.1
| Jan mean C = 22.4
| Feb mean C = 24.7
| Mar mean C = 27.1
| Apr mean C = 29.0
| May mean C = 28.4
| Jun mean C = 28.1
| Jul mean C = 27.7
| Aug mean C = 27.5
| Sep mean C = 27.3
| Oct mean C = 26.8
| Nov mean C = 24.8
| Dec mean C = 22.2
| year mean C = 26.3
| Jan low C = 17.4
| Feb low C = 19.6
| Mar low C = 22.1
| Apr low C = 24.5
| May low C = 24.9
| Jun low C = 25.2
| Jul low C = 25.0
| Aug low C = 24.8
| Sep low C = 24.3
| Oct low C = 23.4
| Nov low C = 20.5
| Dec low C = 17.3
| year low C = 22.4
| Jan record low C = 3.3
| Feb record low C = 7.6
| Mar record low C = 10.0
| Apr record low C = 16.8
| May record low C = 19.0
| Jun record low C = 20.0
| Jul record low C = 19.5
| Aug record low C = 20.6
| Sep record low C = 18.8
| Oct record low C = 12.9
| Nov record low C = 8.9
| Dec record low C = 5.0
| year record low C = 3.3
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 7.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 15.3
| Mar precipitation mm = 39.2
| Apr precipitation mm = 92.8
| May precipitation mm = 233.5
| Jun precipitation mm = 264.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 307.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 332.9
| Sep precipitation mm = 270.2
| Oct precipitation mm = 96.6
| Nov precipitation mm = 13.5
| Dec precipitation mm = 3.7
| year precipitation mm = 1677.2
| Jan rain days = 1.0
| Feb rain days = 2.0
| Mar rain days = 5.0
| Apr rain days = 8.0
| May rain days = 16.0
| Jun rain days = 19.0
| Jul rain days = 20.0
| Aug rain days = 22.0
| Sep rain days = 17.0
| Oct rain days = 9.0
| Nov rain days = 2.0
| Dec rain days = 1.0
| year rain days = 122.0
| Jan humidity = 70
| Feb humidity = 68
| Mar humidity = 66
| Apr humidity = 69
| May humidity = 78
| Jun humidity = 82
| Jul humidity = 82
| Aug humidity = 84
| Sep humidity = 83
| Oct humidity = 78
| Nov humidity = 72
| Dec humidity = 70
| year humidity = 75
| Jan sun = 239.8
| Feb sun = 216.9
| Mar sun = 218.5
| Apr sun = 227.6
| May sun = 195.3
| Jun sun = 140.8
| Jul sun = 129.9
| Aug sun = 133.0
| Sep sun = 165.9
| Oct sun = 210.5
| Nov sun = 228.5
| Dec sun = 246.6
| year sun = 2353.5
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]],<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210716235244/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Lao_PDR/Vientiane%20Capital.xls
| archive-date = 16 July 2021
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Lao_PDR/Vientiane%20Capital.xls
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981–2010
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 16 July 2021}}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes 1907–1990),<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_489400_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Vientiane (Viangchan) / Laos
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 23 January 2016}}</ref> Pogoda.ru.net,<ref name=pogoda>
{{cite web|url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate4.php?id=48940|script-title=ru:КЛИМАТ УЛАН-БАТОРА|publisher=Pogoda.ru.net|language=ru|access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref> tutiempo.net<ref name=RID>{{Cite web |last=S.L |first=Tutiempo Network |title=Climate Vientiane - Climate data (489400) |url=https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/ws-489400.html |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=www.tutiempo.net |language=en}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[NOAA]] (humidity 1961–1990)<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/LA/48940.TXT
| title = Vientiane Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200717060122/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/LA/48940.TXT
| archive-date = 2020-07-17
| url-status = dead
| access-date = 29 November 2013}}</ref>
| date = August 2010
| source = 
}}

{{Weather box
|location = Pakse (1981–2010)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 36.7
|Feb record high C = 37.8
|Mar record high C = 38.9
|Apr record high C = 40.8
|May record high C = 41.3
|Jun record high C = 38.3
|Jul record high C = 38.2
|Aug record high C = 35.0
|Sep record high C = 36.0
|Oct record high C = 36.7
|Nov record high C = 36.7
|Dec record high C = 36.6
|year record high C = 41.3
|Jan high C = 32.0
|Feb high C = 33.5
|Mar high C = 35.1
|Apr high C = 35.5
|May high C = 33.5
|Jun high C = 31.6
|Jul high C = 31.0
|Aug high C = 30.5
|Sep high C = 31.0
|Oct high C = 31.3
|Nov high C = 31.2
|Dec high C = 30.8
|year high C = 32.3
|Jan mean C = 25.6
|Feb mean C = 27.7
|Mar mean C = 29.6
|Apr mean C = 30.4
|May mean C = 29.1
|Jun mean C = 28.1
|Jul mean C = 27.6
|Aug mean C = 27.2
|Sep mean C = 27.3
|Oct mean C = 27.1
|Nov mean C = 26.2
|Dec mean C = 24.9
|year mean C = 27.6
|Jan low C = 18.7
|Feb low C = 21.4
|Mar low C = 24.1
|Apr low C = 25.8
|May low C = 25.3
|Jun low C = 24.9
|Jul low C = 24.5
|Aug low C = 24.3
|Sep low C = 24.1
|Oct low C = 23.1
|Nov low C = 21.1
|Dec low C = 18.9
|year low C = 23.0
|Jan record low C = 7.8
|Feb record low C = 10.8
|Mar record low C = 12.8
|Apr record low C = 19.8
|May record low C = 21.7
|Jun record low C = 21.5
|Jul record low C = 21.4
|Aug record low C = 21.5
|Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record low C = 16.7
|Nov record low C = 13.9
|Dec record low C = 8.9
|year record low C = 7.8
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 1.5
|Feb precipitation mm = 10.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 26.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 67.3
|May precipitation mm = 229.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 351.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 414.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 504.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 308.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 128.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 25.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 2.2
|year precipitation mm = 2070.6
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 1
|Mar rain days = 3
|Apr rain days = 8
|May rain days = 17
|Jun rain days = 21
|Jul rain days = 24
|Aug rain days = 25
|Sep rain days = 20
|Oct rain days = 12
|Nov rain days = 5
|Dec rain days = 1
|year rain days = 138
|Jan humidity = 62
|Feb humidity = 60
|Mar humidity = 59
|Apr humidity = 65
|May humidity = 75
|Jun humidity = 82
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 85
|Sep humidity = 84
|Oct humidity = 79
|Nov humidity = 72
|Dec humidity = 67
|year humidity = 72.8
|Jan sun = 274.5
|Feb sun = 243.9
|Mar sun = 244.5
|Apr sun = 227.1
|May sun = 202.0
|Jun sun = 145.0
|Jul sun = 142.2
|Aug sun = 126.6
|Sep sun = 141.2
|Oct sun = 188.3
|Nov sun = 225.7
|Dec sun = 249.3
|year sun = 2410.4
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]],<ref>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210717012832/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Lao_PDR/Pakse.xls
| archive-date = 17 July 2021
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Lao_PDR/Pakse.xls
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981–2010
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 16 July 2021}}</ref> tutiempo.net<ref>{{Cite web |last=S.L |first=Tutiempo Network |title=Climate Pakse - Climate data (489550) |url=https://en.tutiempo.net/climate/ws-489550.html |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=www.tutiempo.net |language=en}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[NOAA]] (humidity 1961–1990),<ref>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/LA/48955.TXT
| title = Pakse Climate Normals 1961-1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201025121331/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/LA/48955.TXT
| archive-date = 2020-10-25
| url-status = dead
| access-date = January 11, 2013}}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes),<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_489550_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Pakse (Pakxé) / Laos
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = January 23, 2016}}</ref> The Yearbook of Indochina (1932-1933)<ref>[https://seadelt.net/Asset/Source/Document_ID-247_No-01.PDF  The Yearbook of Indochina (1932-1933)]</ref>
|date=December 2014}}

== Agriculture ==
5 million out of 23,680,000 hectares of Laos's total land area is suitable for cultivation, and 17% of the land area, between 850,000 and 900,000 hectares, was cultivated as of the 1990s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Savada|1995|p=153}}.</ref> Rice is a crop grown during the rainy season.<ref>{{Harvnb|Savada|1995|p=156}}.</ref>

Agricultural cultivation is possible with varying weather on a portion of land area apart from the Vientiane plain and the lowlands along the Mekong Valley. These cultivated areas are situated in the valleys cut by the rivers or the plateau regions of Xieng Khouang in the North and in the Bolavens in the south. Typically there are only two ways to cultivate: either the wet-field paddy system practiced among the Lao Loum or lowland in Lao, or the swidden cultivation system practiced in the hills.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Laos - Crops |url=http://countrystudies.us/laos/68.htm |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=countrystudies.us}}</ref>

== Human geography ==
{{see also|Laos#Demographics}}
The overall population density was 18 persons per square kilometer, and in some districts the density was fewer than 10 persons per square kilometer.<ref name="Savada 1995-3">{{Harvnb|Savada|1995|pp=86–87}}.</ref> Population density per cultivated hectare ranged from 3.3 to 7.8 persons per hectare.<ref name="Savada 1995-3" />

==Natural resources and environmental issues==
{{See also|Wildlife of Laos|Environmental issues in Laos}}
[[File:Fires in Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.jpg|thumb|Hundreds of active fires burning across the hills and valleys of [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], Laos, and [[Vietnam]] (labelled with red dots)]]

The natural resources of Laos include timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, and gemstones.<ref name="World Factbook">{{CIA World Factbook|article=Laos|year=2021|access-date=2021-10-26}}</ref>

The [[United Nations Development Programme]] warns: "Protecting the environment and sustainable use of natural resources in Lao PDR is vital for poverty reduction and economic growth."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undplao.org/whatwedo/energy_env.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311201841/http://www.undplao.org/whatwedo/energy_env.php|archive-date=11 March 2008|title=Energy & Environment for Sustainable Development |publisher=United Nations Development Programme|access-date=20 April 2011}}</ref>

==Area and boundaries==
[[Image:Luang Prabang Phou Si 2.jpg|thumb|The Mekong river at [[Luang Prabang]], Laos]]
;Area:
:* Total: {{Convert|236800|km2|abbr=in}}<ref name="World Factbook" />
:**country rank in the world: ''82nd''
:* Land: {{Convert|230,800|km2|abbr=in}}
:* Water: {{Convert|6,000|km2|abbr=in}}
;Land boundaries:<ref name="World Factbook" />
:* Total: {{Convert|5,274|km|abbr=in}}
:*Border countries:
:** [[Cambodia]]: {{Convert|555|km|abbr=in}}
:** [[China]]: {{Convert|475|km|abbr=in}}
:** [[Myanmar]]: {{Convert|238|km|abbr=in}}
:** Thailand: {{Convert|1845|km|abbr=in}}
:** Vietnam: {{Convert|2161|km|abbr=in}}
;Elevation extremes:<ref name="World Factbook" />
:*Lowest point: [[Mekong|Mekong River]] {{Convert|70|m|abbr=in}}
:*Highest point: [[Phou Bia]] {{Convert|2,817|m}}

==See also==
*[[National Biodiversity Conservation Areas]]
*[[Zomia]]
*[[Transport in Laos]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

* {{cite encyclopedia |title=Laos: a country study |publisher=[[Federal Research Division]], [[Library of Congress]] |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/95017235/ |date=1995 |editor-last=Savada |editor-first=Andrea Matles |edition=3rd |isbn=0-8444-0832-8 |oclc=32394600}} {{PD-notice}}
'''Attribution:'''
*{{CIA World Factbook|article=Laos|year=2021}}

{{Laos topics}}
{{Geography of Asia}}
{{Asia topic|Climate of}}

[[Category:Geography of Laos| ]]
[[Category:Regions of Southeast Asia]]