|
Myanmar, officially the Union of Myanmar (pronounced [pjìdàunzṵ
mjəmà nàinŋàndɔ̀]) is the largest country by geographical area in mainland
Southeast Asia. On 4 January 1948, Burma achieved independence from Great
Britain as the “Union of Burma”. Subsequent name changes were on 4 January
1974, to the “Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma”; 23 September 1988,
to the “Union of Burma” and, since 18 June 1989, the “Union of Myanmar”.
Also known as Burma or the Union of Burma by bodies and states which do not
recognize the ruling military junta, it is bordered by the People's Republic
of China on the north, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast,
Bangladesh on the west, and India on the northwest, with the Andaman Sea to
the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the southwest. One-third of Myanmar's
total perimeter, 1,930 km (1,199 mi), forms an uninterrupted coastline. |
