Destination Laos
Location and Geography
Laos is a land-locked country located in mainland South-East Asia with a total land area of approximately 237,000 square kilometres, and is bordered by China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma. Most of the country is very densely forested with rugged mountains, and consequently less than 5% of Laos is considered as arable. The Mekong River is known as the ‘lifeblood’ of the country and it flows almost the entire length of Laos, forming most of the western border with Thailand. The mountains of the Annamite Chain form most of the eastern border with Vietnam.
Laos’ main cities, including Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Savannakhet, are all located along the mighty Mekong River. Fishing is therefore a very important activity for many Laotians and provides a vital source of protein for local people. Hydropower, mining and timber are the main industries, and more recently the tourism industry has started to become significant. With this recent development the environment has not been forgotten – in 1993 the Lao government allocated about 21% of the nation’s land area for preservation.
Administratively Laos is divided into 16 provinces and 1 capital city district. The total population of Laos is approximately 6 million people, and about 70% of the population lives away from the main towns and cities in the rural areas. With a population density of only about 23 people per square kilometre, it is one of the least densely populated countries in East Asia. An estimated 131 different ethnic groups can be found in Laos, which have been broadly categorized into 3 main groups according to linguistic and ethnic as well as to geographic criteria. The largest of these groups with about two thirds of the population is known as the ‘lowland Lao’, or Lao Loum.
