Myanmar, Republic in Southeast Asia.
Myanmar is a republic in Southeast Asia that extends from the Tibetan highlands to the Malay peninsula and includes high mountain ranges enclosing a central valley with three major river systems. The landscape shows rainforests, coastal stretches along two seas, and wide river deltas in the southern part.
The Pyu civilization arose in the second century BCE in central regions, followed by Mon kingdoms in the south. The Pagan Kingdom unified large parts of the territory from the ninth century and built thousands of Buddhist temples before Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century led to dissolution.
The name derives from the Bamar people, who form the largest population group and whose language serves as the official tongue across the nation. Golden pagodas define cityscapes in most towns, while monks in deep red robes are part of everyday life and walk through streets each morning to collect donations.
The best travel period falls between November and February when temperatures are comfortable and rainfall is low. International flights land in Yangon and Mandalay, while overland connections exist to Thailand, China, and India.
The Mogok region north of Mandalay has supplied high-quality gemstones for centuries that are traded on international markets. Traditional mining methods persist alongside modern techniques, and the nation produces 90 percent of the world's rubies, along with sapphires, pearls, and jade.
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