Geography of Laos

Most of the western border of Laos is demarcated by the Mekong river, which is an artery for transportation. Elevations are typically above 500 metres with river valleys. 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. The southern "panhandle" of the country contains areas in Savannakhét and Champasak provinces that are more suited for paddy rice cultivation and livestock raising. Most of Khammouan Province and the eastern part of all the southern provinces are "mountainous". Together, the alluvial plains and terraces of the Mekong and its tributaries cover about 20% of the land area. About 4% of the total land area is classified as arable. The forested land area has declined since the 1970s as a result of commercial logging and expanded swidden, or slash-and-burn, farming. ==Climate==

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. City rainfall stations have recorded that Savannakhét averages of rain annually; Vientiane receives about , and Louangphrabang (Luang Prabang) receives about . {{Weather box {{Weather box {{cite web == 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. Rice is a crop grown during the rainy season. 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. == Human geography ==

The overall population density was 18 persons per square kilometer, and in some districts the density was fewer than 10 persons per square kilometer. Population density per cultivated hectare ranged from 3.3 to 7.8 persons per hectare. ==Natural resources and environmental issues==

, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam (labelled with red dots) The natural resources of Laos include timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, and gemstones. 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." ==Area and boundaries==

, Laos ;Area: :* Total: :**country rank in the world: 82nd :* Land: :* Water: ;Land boundaries: :* Total: :*Border countries: :** Cambodia: :** China: :** Myanmar: :** Thailand: :** Vietnam: ;Elevation extremes: :*Lowest point: Mekong River :*Highest point: Phou Bia ==See also==