Laos

Laos is a landlocked country, approximately the same size as Ecuador or Great Britain. It is made up of mostly mountains and plateaus. The Mekong River flows through western and southern regions and forms a natural border with Thailand and Burma. Most of Laos' important cities are nestled on its banks including the capital Vientiane and the former royal capital, Luang Prabang a World Heritage listed site. Rugged mountains cover more than 75 percent of the country. The vegetation is diverse and rich comprising tropical and subtropical species, from mango and palms to hardwoods. Around half of the country is still covered with primary forest.