Annamite Range

The Annamite Range is a major mountain range located in Mainland Southeast Asia.

It stretches across several different countries in the region. The range extends through Laos and Vietnam. It also reaches into a small area of northeast Cambodia. This massive geological feature acts as a natural divide for the land. It separates the basin of the Mekong River from the narrow coastal plain of Vietnam. This coastal plain sits along the South China Sea. The range follows a gentle curve that runs parallel to the Vietnamese coast.

The geography of the range is defined by its different slopes and elevations. Most of the mountain crests are located on the Laotian side of the divide. The eastern slope rises very steeply from the coastal plains. Numerous short rivers drain this steep side. In contrast, the western slope is much more gentle. This slope forms significant plateaus before it descends to the banks of the Mekong River. There are three main plateaus in the range. Moving from north to south, they are the Phouane Plateau, the Nakai Plateau, and the Bolaven Plateau.

Several high peaks define the skyline of the Annamite Range. The highest point is Phou Bia, which reaches an elevation of 1,885 meters. Other significant high points include Phu Xai Lai Leng. The peak known as Ngọc Linh is also very high. This mountain is located at the northwestern edge of the Triassic Kontum Massif in central Vietnam. Travelers often use specific mountain passes to navigate the terrain. Two important routes are the Nape Pass and the Mụ Giạ Pass. These paths allow movement through the rugged landscape.

The name of the range has many different variations. It is often called the Annamese Range or the Annamese Mountains. Other names include the Annamese Cordillera and the Annamite Mountains. The term "Annamite Cordillera" is also used. The word "Annam" comes from the Vietnamese pronunciation of a term meaning "the tranquil south." This term refers specifically to Vietnam. Historically, the French adopted this terminology. They used the words "Annamese" or "Annamite" to refer to the Vietnamese people.

This mountain range is a vital global ecoregion for biodiversity. It is known as the Annamite Range Moist Forests Ecoregion. This tropical seasonal forest ecoregion consists of two distinct terrestrial parts. These are the Southern Annamites montane rain forests and the Northern Annamites rain forests. The mountains provide a home for many rare and unique creatures. You can find the recently discovered Annamite rabbit living here. The range is also home to the saola, which is an antelope-like animal. Other notable wildlife includes the Douc langur, the large gaur, and the Chinese pangolin. The Indochinese tiger formerly lived in this region as well.

The human history of the highlands has undergone massive changes. At the beginning of the 20th century, the area was populated by various ethnic minorities. These groups were not Vietnamese. However, the demographics of the region were drastically transformed later in the century. Between 1976 and the 1990s, approximately 6 million settlers arrived in the highlands. This large movement of people changed the population balance. As a result, the ethnic Vietnamese Kinh now outnumber the native ethnic groups in these areas.

The Annamite Range also influences how countries are organized geographically. Laos lies mostly within the Mekong basin to the west of the mountain divide. However, some areas sit to the east. Most of Houaphan Province is east of the divide. A portion of Xiangkhoang Province also lies to the east. This province is where the famous Plain of Jars is located. Most of Vietnam lies to the east of the range. Yet, the Tây Nguyên region of Vietnam lies to the west of the divide. This means the Central Highlands sit within the Mekong basin.