Editing Geography of Vietnam (section)

===Central Highlands===
Within the southern portion of Vietnam is a plateau known as the [[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]] (Tây Nguyên), approximately 51,800 square kilometers of rugged mountain peaks, extensive forests, and rich soil. Comprising five relatively flat plateaus of [[basalt]] soil spread over the provinces of [[Đắk Lắk province|Đắk Lắk]] (or "Dac Lac"), [[Gia Lai province|Gia Lai]], and [[Kon Tum province|Kon Tum]], the highlands account for 16% of the country's [[arable land]] and 22% of its total forested land. Before 1975, [[North Vietnam]] had maintained that the Central Highlands and the Day Truong Son were strategic areas of paramount importance, essential to the domination not only of South Vietnam but also of the southern part of Indochina. Since 1975, the highlands have provided an area in which to relocate people from the densely populated lowlands.