Rakhine State |
Location:
Rakhine State is
situated in thc westerml1ost part of the nation. Bordering Chin State
in the north and Magway Division. Bago Division and Ayeyawady Division
in the east and facing Bay of Bengal in the west, it is located
between latitudes 17°30' north and 21°30' north and east longitudes
92°10' cast and 94°z0' east. The area of the State is 14,200 sq-miles.
Rakhine State is located in tropical monsoon region. Temperatures
never rise or fall extremely as it is a coastal region. The average
temperature of Sittway in May the hottest month of the year, is
84°F(29°C) and in January, the coldest month of the year, is
70°F(21°C). Rakhine State gels a lot of rain annually as tl1e
north-west monsoon winds blow from the sea almost right angle to the
Yoma. Rakhine State gets rain from storms that formed in the Bay of
Bengal. Annual rainfall at Thandwe is 221 inches Kyaukpyu 186 inches
and Sittway 203 inches. Torrential rains fall and tidal waves rise
from the sea when cyclones that are formed in the Bay of Bengal enter
Rakhine State, causing property damages and flooding of salt water in
low land areas. Though the storms appear mostly in early and later
periods of rainy season. they sometimes appear in the mid rainy
season.
Population, inhabitants languages and religion:
State is a sparsely populated area
as its mountainous landscape is covered by thick forests. Its
population is over 2.6 million and Sittway is the most populous town
in the state. Rakhines and Bamars live in valleys and on Yambye and
Manaung islands. Chills are inhabitants of mountain regions of the
north. Mros, Thets, Khamis, Dainets, Maramagyis and Kamans live on
mountain ranges in the west and north of Sittway plain. The majority
of people are Buddhists. Main languages are Rakhine and Myanmar.
State is a sparsely populated area as its mountainous landscape is
covered by thick forests. Its population is over 2.6 million and
Sittway is the most populous town in the state. Rakhines and Bamars
live in valleys and on Yambye and Manaung islands. Chills are
inhabitants of mountain regions of the north. Mros, Thets, Khamis,
Dainets, Maramagyis and Kamans live on mountain ranges in the west and
north of Sittway plain. The majority of people are Buddhists. Main
languages are Rakhine and Myanmar.
Formation of districts, townships and villages:
The total area of Rakhine State is
14,200 square-miles. The slate is formed with five districts. Which
are Sittway. Maungtaw, Buthidaung, Kyaukpyu and Thandwe districts.
These districts are formed with 17 townships and 1,164 village-tracts.
Sittway is the capital city of the state. Other well-known towns are
Thandwe, Kyaukpyu, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw, Punnagyun, Minbya, Taungup,
Yanbye and Gwa. Rakhine State Day falls on l 5 December.
The total area of Rakhine State is 14,200 square-miles. The slate
is formed with five districts. Which are Sittway. Maungtaw, Buthidaung,
Kyaukpyu and Thandwe districts. These districts are formed with 17
townships and 1,164 village-tracts. Sittway is the capital city of the
state. Other well-known towns are Thandwe, Kyaukpyu, Mrauk-U, Kyauktaw,
Punnagyun, Minbya, Taungup, Yanbye and Gwa. Rakhine State Day falls on
l 5 December.
Sown
acreage and produce:
Rakhine State has a
cultivated area of over one million acres including over 850,000 acres
of paddy farm. nearly 20,000 acres of other crops. 15,000 acres of
silted-land cultivated areas. 36.00() acres of garden farms, over
12,000 acres of hill-side cultivation and 13.000 of nipa palm trees.
Eighty-five per cent of total sown acreage is paddy Fields. Over
860,000 acres are put under monsoon paddy in the stale yearly. Annual
yield of monsoon paddy is 48 million baskets. Summer paddy is
cultivated on over 15.000 acres y early. Mastard, groundnut, onion,
chilli and beans and pulses are also cultivated in the state.
The
main crop of Sittway plain is paddy. Other crops such as mustard,
sesame chili. sugarcane, onion, potato, com. areca nut, betel leaf.
tobacco and vegetables are also cultivated in thc region. Rubber is
grown in Thandwe and Gwa townships. Coconut farms can be seen along
the coastal areas and nipa palm plantations along the banks of creeks
and rivers. Some people of the coastal areas conduct both fishing and
agriculture. A kind of small fish called by locals "Nganidu" is the
significant product of Rakhine State.
Other
products: There are
Fishing stations in Sittway and Kyaukpyu townships. using modern
trawlers in catching prawns and fish at sea. Most of the catch (fish
and prawns) is transported to Yangon. Some of the catch is exported.
Cold storages are located at Tattaung near the mouth of Ann Creek.
Kyaukpyu has a Fisheries Training School. Thc State-owned pearl
culture station is situated on Apawye Island near Thandwe. Sun-dried
salt and refined salt is produced along the coast. Wood products such
as timber. bamboo and fuel wood are extracted from forest. Small
amount of crude oil is produced from shallow wells on Yanbye. Manaung.
Ye, Phayonga au1d Mozi islands. Alabaster is mined at Naypu Hill near
Taungup Township.
Traditions and culture and festivals: Rakhine State Day falls on 15 December. Buddha pujaniyas of Hsandawshin Pagoda on West Phayonga Island, Shitthaung Pagoda in MraukU and Bhudawmaw Pagoda are famous in the state. Rice Pounding Festival which is observed at the end of Buddhist Lent. Carriage Festival which is held in Tabodwe. Boat Festival which is held in Tagu and Kyin (Wrestling) Festival are traditional Rakhine festivals.
Kissapanadi Bridge, Rakhine State
Historical sites and interesting places:
Located between Kaladan and Lemyo rivers. MraukU. an ancient royal
town, is rich in interesting historical sites such as pagodas and
other cultural edifices and antiques. Moreover the ancient cities
Danyawady and Vassali are located in the state. Ngapali and Kanthaya
are beautiful beach resorts.
Radio and TV retransmission stations and microwave stations:
A 10-kilowatt TV
retransmission station is located in Sittway Township; a one-kilowatt
station in Buthidaung Township a 20-kilowatt station at Yanbye
Township. There are six microwave stations in Rakhine State.
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Prepared by THAN TUN WIN, Embassy of
the Union of