Sittang River

Sittang River
River, east-central Myanmar (Burma).

It rises on the edge of the Shan Plateau and flows south 260 mi (420 km) to empty into the Gulf of Martaban of the Andaman Sea. Though navigable for only a short distance, it is used to float timber (particularly teak) south for export. It was the scene of severe fighting during World War II.

* * *

      river in east-central Myanmar (Burma), rising northeast of Yamethin on the edge of the Shan Plateau and flowing south for 260 miles (420 km) to empty into the Gulf of Martaban of the Andaman Sea. The broad Sittang River valley lies between the forested Pegu Mountains (west) and the steep Shan Plateau (east) and holds the main road and railway from Yangon (Rangoon) to Mandalay as well as the major towns of Pegu, Toungoo, Yamethin, and Pyinmana. The river is navigable for 25 miles (40 km) year-round and for 55 miles (90 km) during three months of the year. The Sittang is used to float timber (particularly teak) south for export. Its lower course is linked by canal to Pegu River. This canal, built to bypass the tidal bore that afflicted the mouth of the Sittang, once provided the only route from Yangon to Toungoo. Geomorphologists consider the Sittang a misfit, too small in volume for its large valley, and theorize that the lower course of the Irrawaddy River originally occupied the valley but was deflected westward by geologic movements in Pleistocene times.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sittang River — The Sittang (known as the Sittoung in earlier romanisations) is a river in Burma (in Bago Division except for a part near the mouth which borders on Mon State), located in the south of the country between the Irrawaddy and Salween Rivers. The… …   Wikipedia

  • river — river1 riverless, adj. riverlike, adj. /riv euhr/, n. 1. a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels. 2. a similar stream of something other than water: a… …   Universalium

  • Sittang (Sittoung) River —    A major river system flowing from the Pegu (Bago) Yoma to the Gulf of Martaban (Mottama) for a length of about 500 kilometers. The Sittang Valley is home to a densely populated agricultural region. A bridge across the Sittang was the site of a …   Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar)

  • Irrawaddy River — River, Myanmar (Burma). It flows 1,350 mi (2,170 km) across the centre of the country and empties into the Bay of Bengal. The country s most important commercial waterway, it is formed by the confluence of the Nmai and the Mali rivers; in the… …   Universalium

  • Sittang — geographical name river 260 miles (418 kilometers) E central Myanmar flowing S into Gulf of Martaban …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River caption= partof=Central Burma Campaign date=February 4 May 13, 1945 place=Pokoku, Burma result=Decisive Allied Victory combatant1=Indian 7th Infantry Division Indian 17th… …   Wikipedia

  • Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River —    Burma s largest river system; bisects the country in a north south direction, linking Upper and Lower Burma. Its headwaters (the confluence of two smaller rivers) rise just north of Myitkyina in Kachin State, and it is navigable year round for …   Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar)

  • Sittoung River —    See Sittang River …   Historical Dictionary of Burma (Myanmar)

  • Irrawaddy River — Coordinates: 15°51′19″N 95°14′27″E / 15.85528°N 95.24083°E / 15.85528; 95.24083 …   Wikipedia

  • Myanmar — /muy ahn mah/, n. Union of, official name of Burma. * * * I or Burma officially Union of Myanmar Country, Southeast Asia, on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Area: 261,228 sq mi (676,577 sq km). Population (2002 est.): 42,238,000. Capital:… …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”