South East Asia interactive map + quiz

Geography of South East Asia

Southeast Asia is the section of the Asian continent that lies to the east of India and the south of China. There are eleven countries in Southeast Asia, and the region accounts for around 3% of the world's land area. The region can be divided into Mainland Southeast Asia and Maritime Southeast Asia. The region is extraordinarily diverse with regards to topography, ecology and culture.

Brunei lies on the north coast of Borneo, surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The country is divided into two parts, and to cross by land from one to the other, one would have to travel through Malaysia. The western part of the country is larger, and is the location of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital. The country is mostly coastal plains.

The relief of Cambodia is mostly plains, bordered by higher lying land and mountains to the southwest, north and east. The Mekong river runs through the center of the country. The Tonle Sap is the largest lake in the country. Both the Mekong and the Tonle Sap are vital for Cambodia's agricultural production.

Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, with over 13,000 Islands (survey data varie, but 17,000 is probably a closer number). Indonesia lies across the Equator between the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean and off mainland Southeast Asia. The five largest Islandsare Borneo, New Guinea, Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi. The islands of Borneo, New Guinea and Timor are shared with neighboring countries. Indonesia's larger islands are quite mountainous. Indonesia has around 400 volcanoes of which approximately 150 are active. Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world.

Geography of Indonesia
Population: 267 million
Largest city and capital: Jakarta
Highest mountain: Puncak Jaya 4,884 meters 16,024 ft
Land area: 1,904,569 km2, 735,358 sq mi
Climate: tropical

Laos is genera rugged mountainous country, although some lowland areas lie to the east of the Mekong. The most significant mountain range in Laos is the Annamese Cordillera in the northeast and east of the country. The Mekong River runs along most of the country's western border. The forested mountains of Lao are the home of various tribal peoples

Malaysia is situated in the center of Southeast Asia. The country has two major parts, Peninsular Malaysia and Eastern Malaysia, which is part of the island of Borneo. Numerous small offshore islands are also part of Malaysia's territory. Peninsular Malaysia comprises the southern part of the Malay Peninsula, with Thailand to the north and Singapore to the south. Eastern Malaysia borders Indonesia and Brunei. Around 40% of the country is on the peninsula and 60% is on Borneo. Peninsular Malaysia is home to over 80% of Malaysia's population and is where the capital, Kuala Lumpur is situated. Malaysia is divided into thirteen states.

Geography of Malaysia
Population: 32.7 million
Largest city and capital: Kuala Lumpur
Highest mountain: Mount Kinabalu 4,095 meters 13,435 ft
Land area: 329,847 km2, 127,355 sq mi
Climate: tropical

Myanmar is the most northern and western of the countries of Southeast Asia. The north of Myanmar feature the country's highest mountains, with the Arakan mountain range in western Myanmar, and hilly regions and the Shan Plateau in eastern Myanmar. The Irrawaddy, Myanmar's great river runs through the middle of the country forming a large delta where the river meets the Andaman Sea. The Central Valley Region, in the center of the country is low-lying. To the south of the country are coastal plains.

The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,000 Islands, situated between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean in Southeast Asia. The largest Islands are Luzon and Mindanao, which together comprise around two thirds of the land area of the Philippines. Only around 1,000 of the islands have a permanent population. The Philippines was formed from volcanic activity, and the country has many active volcanoes. The country was once covered 8n tropical rainforest, however only around 10% remains.

Geography of Philippines
Population: 109 million
Largest city and capital: Manila
Highest mountain: Mount Apo 2,954 meters 9,692 ft
Climate:tropical

Singapore is an island country and a city state located on the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula. The country is made up of one large densely populated island, where most of the population live, and dozens of surrounding islands. The country is low-lying, with the country's highest point being 165 m (538 ft)

Thailand is a country in the heart of mainland Southeast Asia. The country extends south down the Malayan Peninsula, and the islands off this peninsula are world famous tourist destinations. The northern and western regions of Thailand are generally hilly or mountainous. The Chao Phraya River runs through the central plain, which is the center of the country's rice production. The Khorat Plateau dominates the northeast of the country.

Timor Leste is a small country that occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor, along with a small enclave on the northwestern coast of the island and smaller offshore islands. The island of Timor is part of a group of islands known as the Lesser Sunda Islands. The country has a mountainous terrain.

Vietnam occupies the eastern coastline of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. To the west and south of the country is the long South China Sea coastline. This long country run 1,650 kms (1,030 miles) north to south, and is only 50 kms (31 miles) wide at it's most narrow point. Vietnam has two large delta regions, the Red River Delta in the north, and the Mekong Delta in the south. The most mountainous regions are in the north and northwest.

Geography of Vietnam
Population: 96 million
Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City
Capital: Hanoi
Highest mountain: Fansipan 3,144 meters 10,315 ft
Land area: 331,212 km2, 127,882 sq mi
Climate: tropical

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