Laos Geography

Located in the heart of Indochina, Laos is the only landlocked country in the region, with its borders defined by natural geographical features. To the west, the Mekong river serves as a demarcation line separating Laos from both Thailand and Myanmar. To the east, the Annamite mountain range separates Laos from Vietnam. The northern mountainous region is shared by China, and the south with Cambodia.

The terrain in Laos is mostly rugged and mountainous, particularly to the north and east, where mountain peaks rise in excess of 2800 metres. Over 70% of Laos is covered by mountains and rivers, leaving the Mekong Delta in southwestern Laos as the primary agricultural region. In fact, only 4% of the country is considered arable. Other areas, especially at elevations above 500 metres, comprise steep terrains and narrow valleys. As a result, travel throughout the country remains quite difficult. Laos features a number of plains and plateaus, most notably the Plains of Jars in the province of Xieng Khouang, and the Bolovan plateau, where the French used to grow coffee and cardamom.

Laos contains a total of 15 tributaries which make up a total of 2400 waterways, making river travel one of the most popular means of transportation in the country. Because the general slope of the land in Laos runs downhill from east to west, almost all of these tributaries end up flowing westward into the Mekong river, contributing to about 60% of its overall volume. However, only one third of these waterways are navigable as waterfalls and rapids constrain travel in some regions.

The country is divided into three geographical regions, the Northern, Central and Southern areas, as well as 18 political provinces and regions. The North is made up of steep mountain ranges that are mostly covered by forests, the central region is known for its extensive caves and impressive limestone landscapes, and the south, where the Mekong delta lies, is dotted with multiple islands. It is the southern part of Laos that contains the bulk of the country’s population and agriculture.

Geographical facts:

• Lowest point – Mekong River 70m
• Highest point – Phou Bia mountain, 2817m in Xieng Khaung province of Northern Laos
• Mekong river flows through 1865 km of Lao PDF territory
• Total: 236 800 km sq
• Total land: 230 800 km sq
• Total water: 6000 km sq