| STATE & DIVISION |
| MANDALAY DIVISION |
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Location: Linking Sagaing Division in the
north, Shan State in the east, Bago Division and Kayin State in the south and
Sagaing and Magway Divisions in the west, Mandalay Division is situated between
latitudes 19°20' north and 23°45' north and longitudes 94°45' east and 97°00'
east in the central Myanmar. The area is 14,295 sq.miles. |
Topography and climate: Mountains or high
plateaus can be found in the eastern border of the division and Bago Yoma
region in the south-west. The eastern plateau is the highest region in the
Division, elevating up from 6,000 to 7,000 feet in some places. The 4,981-foot
Mount Popa, an extinct volcano, is famous. |
Various Kinds of climates can be found in Mandalay Division.
The eastern plateau has a warm wet temperate climate. Average temperatures of
the region is between 70°F (21°C) and 75°F (24°C) in April. The average
temperature in the coldest months is 60°F (15.6°C). The lowest temperature
sometimes reaches the freezing point. |
The southernmost part has a Savannah climate
and the remaining regions have arid-like climate. Average temperature of the
plains is 88°F (31°C) and the highest day-time temperature is 110°F (43.3°C).
In the winter, the average temperature is 70°F (21°C) and lowest temperature is
50°F (18°C). |
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Population, inhabitant, languages and religion:
Mandalay Division which is the second most populous State/ Division in Myanmar
has 6,442,000 inhabitants. The average population density is 424 persons per
square mile. |
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Majority of the population is Bamar. There are also a small
number of Shans, Danus, Lisus and Palaungs residing on the eastern plateau.
Leway and Pyinmana have a few population of Plain Chins (Asho Chins). National
races such as Kachin, Kayin and Chin are also living in the division. Majority
of the people are Buddhists. There are also Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
Myanmar language is mainly spoken. |
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Formation of districts, townships and villages:
Mandalay Division is formed with seven districts, 30 townships and 2,320 wards
and village-tracts. Mandalay with a population of over 650,000 is the capital
city of the division. |
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Forest: Mountain forests grow in regions of the
eastern plateau with elevations more than 3,000 feet. Tropical forests grow in
areas with less than 3,000 feet in height and along the Bago Yoma. Indaing
forests can be found in Pyinmana Township. The remaining parts have only bush
forests. Cactus-like plants grow in arid areas of Ayeyawady River bank. The
division has 94 forest reserves (over 2.4 million acres) and 800,000 acres of
preserved forests outside the reserve areas. |
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Sown acreage and produce: Paddy
cultivation areas and seasonal land are the majority of farms in Mandalay
Division. There are over 500,000 acres of irrigated farm lands. The division
annually put over one million acres under edible crops, nearly 900,000 acres
under beans and pulses, over 300,000 acres under cotton and over 500,000 acres
under paddy. |
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The main crops cultivated in the division are
paddy, wheat, millet, corn, sesame, groundnut, sunflower, beans, cotton,
sugarcane, tobacco, chilli and onion. Other crops are garlic, tea, coffee,
vegetables, flowers, banana, mango, plum, grape, betel nut, toddy palm and
betel leaf. |
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Agriculture and farming is jointly conducted in
areas with large acres of cultivated land. Cattle, sheep, goat, pig and chicken
are raised in the Division. |
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Other products: Teak and hard-wood are
produced in the eastern plateau and Bago Yoma. Dry regions produce Thanakha,
catechu and htanoung wood. Iron is mined at Kyadwinyay region near Pyin Oo Lwin
and transported to Steel Plant at Anisakhan, Barite is mined in Dattawtaung in
the east of Kyaukse. Alabaster is mined in Madaya Township, ruby and sapphire
in Mogok Township, tungsten in Pyinmana Township, barite in Pyin Oo Lwin and
Kyaukse townships, gold in Thabeikkyin Township and crude oil and gypsum in the
western regions. |
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Historical sites and interesting places:
Maha Muni Buddha Image and Mandalay Hill are sacred places for Buddhists as
well as ancient cultural heritage. Many pagodas, which are also the ancient
cultural heritage, can be seen in Bagan-NyaungU Tagaung old city in Thabeikkyin
Township, Myinsaing old town near Kyaukse, Mongmaw old town near Kume, Innwa,
Pinya and Amarapura old towns in TadaU Township and Mandalay Palace are famous
historical sites. Mandalay has many ancient pagodas and monasteries. Popa
Mountain with temperate climate in Kyaukpadaung Township and Pyin Oo Lwin which
is a hill station are also popular resorts. The National Kandawgyi Park,
Pwekauk Falls, Peikchin Myaung Cave, Anisakhan Falls and Maha Arnthtoo Kantha
Pagoda are interesting places. |
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Traditional festivals: Festivals such as
Taungpyone Festival, Yadanagu Festival and Kyaukse Elephant Dance Festival are
famous in the Division. |
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Radio and TV retransmission stations and
microwave stations: Four TV retransmission stations in Pyin Oo Lwin
Mogok and Popa are transmitting to eight townships in the division. Fourteen
microwave stations are located in Mandalay, Singaing, Myittha, Wundwin,
Meiktila, Thazi, Yamethin, Tatkon and Pyinmana |
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