Yangon Division |
Location:
Bordering Bago Division in the north and east. Gulf of
Mottama in the south and Ayeyawady Division in the west,
Yangon Division is situated between latitude 16°20' north
and 17 50' north and longitudes 35°45' east and 96°46'east
in the southernmost part of the central plain.
Coco archipelago which is located in the Bay of Bengal is
included in the Division. The Division's area is 3,927.15
square miles.
Topography
and climate:
Bago Yoma
runs from north to south in the division. Kantbalu
Mountain which is nearly 2,600 feet high is located in the
northern border. Thc mountain range gradually slopes down
in the south forming 500 feet above the sea level. Ridges
formed with laterite can be found in Thanlyin. Twantay and
Kungyangon townships.
Yangon Division has a tropical monsool1 climate. As the
Division is located near the sea. there are only slight
changes of temperatures in summer and winter. Average
temperature of April which is the hottest month is 95.0°
F. Daytime temperature rises from 100° F to 104° F. The
coldest months -- December and January -- have an average
temperature of 77° F. Night temperatures fall to 60° F.
Average annual rainfall of the division is 103 inches.
Rainy season lasts from May to October. Rain is heaviest
in July and August.
Population,
inhabitant, languages and religion:
The estimated
population of the division in 1996 is over five million.
Various races of people are living in the division. The
majority of the population is Bamar. There are also many
persons of foreign descendants. Especially, there is a
large number of Chinese and Indians. Majority of the
inhabitants are Buddhists followed by Muslims and
Christians. Myanmar is the main language.
Yangon Division is formed with four districts. which are,
Yangon East District. Yangon West District, Yangon North
District and Yangon South District. and 45 townships.
There are 1,305 wards and village-tracts. Of the 45
townships. Coco Gyun Township includes Cocogyi Island,
Cocolay Island. Sarpwe Island and Pariparis Island. Yangon
City is the capital of the division as well as Myanmar. It
is a port city. Yangon International Airport is handling
international flights. Most of the government office
buildings, universities and industries are situated in
Yangon Division.
Forests:
Evergreen forests and various kinds of trees grow on
mountain ranges stretching from Bago Yoma. Marshes can be
found at inundated areas in the western part. Mangroves
and sand dunes with trees are located along the coats.
There are over 250,000 acres of reserve forests.
Sown acreage
and produce:
Of the 1.4
million acres of cultivable land in the division, over 1.2
million acres are put under paddy. There are over 5.000
acres of seasonal cultivation land and nearly 200,000
acres of garden farms in the division. Main crops are
paddy, corn, sesame, groundnut, sunflower, beans, jute and
rubber. There are also vegetable, flower, coconut, banana
and nipa palm farms.
Other
products:
The division
has many State-owned, cooperative and private industries
producing various kinds of foodstuff and social goods.
Yangon is the main commercial city trading local and
foreign goods. It is the centre of export and import
business. There are many large fish and prawn farms in the
division.
Historical
sites and interesting places:
In addition
to Shwedagon Pagoda, which is renowned as one of the
wonders of the world and the most sublime stupa for
Theravada Buddhists, other famous pagodas such as Sule,
Botahtaung, Meilamu. Kaba Aye, Maha Wizaya and Buddha's
Tooth Relic are situated in Yangon. The city has the
Zoological Garden and many beautiful parks. Letkokkon is a
beautiful beach resort.
Yangon City
Traditional
festivals:
Religious
festivals are being held town-wise or ward-wise in the
division year round. Shwedagon Pagoda Pujaniya, Meilamu
Pagoda Pujaniya and Thingyan Festival are famous
festivals. The annually-held ceremony to confer religious
titles on members of the Sangha and lay persons is also a
famous ceremony.
Main
construction projects:
New satellite
towns such as Dagon (South and North), Hlaingthaya.
Shwepyitha and Shwepaukkan were built in enlarging the
city. There are many industrial Zones, hotels, modern
markets and large buildings in the city. Hotels such as
the 20-storey Traders Hotel. Sedona Hotel, Equatorial
Hotel, Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel. Yangon City Hotel and
Summit Parkview are famous.
_________________________________________________________________
Prepared by THAN TUN WIN, Embassy of
the Union of