Myanmar

Myanmar, also called Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia. It has thousands of ancient temples, golden pagodas, and beautiful mountains. Myanmar is a land of rich traditions and stunning natural beauty.

Land and People

About 55 million people live in Myanmar. The capital is Naypyidaw, but the largest city is Yangon. Myanmar has mountains in the north, plains in the center, and a long coastline. The Irrawaddy River flows through the country.

Many old temples standing together in Bagan, Myanmar.
Many old temples standing together in Bagan, Myanmar. (Corto Maltese 1999 / Wikimedia Commons)

Culture and Fun Facts

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is covered in real gold and is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites. The ancient city of Bagan has over 2,000 temples spread across the plains. People wear thanaka, a yellow paste, on their faces as sunscreen and decoration.

Fun Facts

  • Bagan in Myanmar has over 2,000 ancient temples and pagodas.
  • The Shwedagon Pagoda is covered in real gold and is over 2,500 years old.
  • Many people in Myanmar wear a traditional skirt-like garment called a longyi.

Did You Know?

The ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar has over 2,000 Buddhist temples spread across a wide plain. Long ago there were over 10,000 temples. You can see them stretching to the horizon, especially beautiful at sunrise when hot air balloons float overhead.