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Yangon

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Yangon is the largest city in Myanmar.

Yangon map
Yangon map

It is a very important place for business and culture. Over five million people live there today. The city sits in Lower Burma near the Bago and Yangon Rivers. It is about 30 kilometers away from the Gulf of Martaban.

01-rio-yangon-d03
01-rio-yangon-d03

The land is part of the Irrawaddy Delta. This means you can find intertidal flat ecosystems near the city. The city sits at an elevation of 23 meters above sea level.

The weather in Yangon follows a tropical monsoon pattern. This means there are two main seasons. The wet season lasts from May through October. During these months, the city receives a huge amount of rain.

Yangon at night
Yangon at night

The dry season lasts from November through April. During this time, there is very little rainfall. The temperatures stay mostly the same each year. Average highs stay between 32 and 35 degrees Celsius. Average lows stay between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius.

Yangon cityscape Hledan
Yangon cityscape Hledan

The city must also watch for tropical cyclones.

Yangon has a very long and interesting history. It was founded as Dagon in the early 11th century. The Mon people lived in this area at that time.

Sule Pagoda, Golden stupas, Yangon, Myanmar
Sule Pagoda, Golden stupas, Yangon, Myanmar

In the 1400s, Queen Shin Saw Pu built a palace near the Shwedagon Pagoda. Later, King Alaungpaya captured the town in 1755. He added more settlements and called the enlarged town "Yangon." The name comes from Burmese words meaning "End of Strife."

Shwedagon Zedi Daw Yangon 5
Shwedagon Zedi Daw Yangon 5

The British captured the city during wars in the 1800s. They turned it into a major political hub.

The city center is famous for its old architecture. Yangon has the most colonial-era buildings in Southeast Asia.

Ministers' Office Building Yangon 4
Ministers' Office Building Yangon 4

Many of these buildings are four stories tall. They often have high ceilings and are used for living or business. In 1996, the city put 200 buildings on a heritage list. This list helps protect them from being torn down.

Cityhall Yangon Downtown
Cityhall Yangon Downtown

Some newer buildings like hotels and malls are now being built. However, many people still love the old style of the downtown area.

Yangon used to be the capital of Myanmar. The military government moved the capital to Naypyidaw in 2005.

Even though it is no longer the capital, it is still very important. It is the largest commercial and economic center in the country. The city has grown much larger over the years. It used to be a small peninsula between rivers. Now, it spreads far out toward the international airport.

Ygnbusyairport
Ygnbusyairport

Life in the city can be busy and crowded. It remains the heart of Burmese culture.

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🖼️ Images & Media (29)
File:Yangon Rangoon and Environ map 1911.jpg
Yangon Rangoon and Environ map 1911.jpg
File:Public Gardens, Rangoon.jpg
Public Gardens, Rangoon.jpg
File:RangoonStreetView.jpg
RangoonStreetView.jpg
File:2021 Myanmar Protest in Hleden.jpg
2021 Myanmar Protest in Hleden.jpg
File:Yangon map.svg
Yangon map.svg
File:Yangon, Strand Road, Myanmar, Burma.jpg
Yangon, Strand Road, Myanmar, Burma.jpg
File:Cityhall Yangon Downtown.jpg
Cityhall Yangon Downtown.jpg
File:Yangon at night.jpg
Yangon at night.jpg
File:Yangon cityscape Hledan.jpg
Yangon cityscape Hledan.jpg
File:YangonViewKDG2024.png
YangonViewKDG2024.png
File:Ministers' Office Building Yangon 4.jpg
Ministers' Office Building Yangon 4.jpg
File:Yangon Kandawgyi Lake.jpeg
Yangon Kandawgyi Lake.jpeg

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