Editing Laos (section)

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Laos}}
[[File:Mekong River (Luang Prabang).jpg|thumb|[[Mekong River]] flowing through [[Luang Prabang]] ]]
[[File:Laos ricefields.JPG|thumb|[[Paddy fields]] in Laos]]
Laos is the only landlocked country in [[Southeast Asia]], and lies mostly between latitudes [[14th parallel north|14°]] and [[23rd parallel north|23°N]] (an area is south of 14°), and longitudes [[100th meridian east|100°]] and [[108th meridian east|108°E]]. Its forested landscape consists mostly of mountains, the highest of which is [[Phou Bia]] at {{convert|2818|m|ft|0}}, with some plains and plateaus. The Mekong River forms a part of the western boundary with Thailand, where the mountains of the [[Annamite Range]] form most of the eastern border with Vietnam and the [[Luang Prabang Range]] the northwestern border with the [[Thai highlands]]. There are 2 plateaus, the [[Xiangkhoang Plateau|Xiangkhoang]] in the north and the [[Bolaven Plateau]] at the southern end. Laos can be considered to consist of 3 geographical areas: north, central, and south.<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web|title=Nsc Lao Pdr|url=http://www.nsc.gov.la/Products/Populationcensus2005/PopulationCensus2005_chapter2.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123082302/http://www.nsc.gov.la/Products/Populationcensus2005/PopulationCensus2005_chapter2.htm|archive-date=23 January 2012|publisher=Nsc.gov.la}}</ref> Laos had a 2019 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 5.59/10, ranking it 98th globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|display-authors=et al.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G}}</ref>

In 1993, the Laos government set aside 21% of the nation's land area for [[habitat conservation]] preservation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indochinatrek.com/laos/lao-guides.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110175658/http://indochinatrek.com/laos/lao-guides.html|archive-date=10 November 2010 |title=Laos travel guides|publisher=Indochinatrek.com |access-date=23 January 2011}}</ref> The country is 1 of 4 in the opium poppy growing region known as the "[[Golden Triangle (Southeast Asia)|Golden Triangle]]".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123604085|title=Mekong Divides Different Worlds In 'Golden Triangle'|website=NPR.org|access-date=1 February 2019|archive-date=4 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204231526/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123604085|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the October 2007 [[UNODC]] fact book ''Opium Poppy Cultivation in South East Asia'', the poppy cultivation area was {{convert|15|km2|sqmi}}, down from {{convert|18|km2|sqmi}} in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/2007-opium-SEAsia.pdf|title=Opium Poppy Cultivation in South East Asia|date=October 2007|website=UNODC|access-date=28 January 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308175047/https://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/2007-opium-SEAsia.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map LAO present.svg|thumb|Köppen climate classification map of Laos]]
The climate is mostly tropical savanna and influenced by the [[monsoon]] pattern.<ref name="climate">{{cite web|title=Laos – Climate|url=http://countrystudies.us/laos/45.htm|access-date=23 January 2011|publisher=Countrystudies.us|archive-date=20 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520154327/http://countrystudies.us/laos/45.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> There is a rainy season from May to October, followed by a dry season from November to April. Local tradition holds that there are three seasons: rainy, cool and hot. Further, the latter two months of the climatologically defined dry season are hotter than the earlier four months.<ref name="climate"/>

===Wildlife===
{{Main|Wildlife of Laos}}
Laos is, considerably, covered by forests; making it important for its [[wildlife]]. [[Geography of Laos|A landlocked country]], Laos includes many species. The northern part of the country remains mountainous. 

Laos, with its vast forests and river systems, is home to a wealth of wildlife.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/lao/publication/lao-biodiversity-a-priority-for-resilient-green-growth |title=Biodiversity |publisher=dicf.unepgrid.ch |access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dicf.unepgrid.ch/lao-peoples-democratic-republic/biodiversity? |title=Lao Biodiversity : A Priority for Resilient Green Growth |date=17 July 2020 |website=worldbank.org |access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref> National parks like [[Nam Et-Phou Louey]] are critical refuges, supporting endangered species such as the [[northern white-cheeked gibbon]] and the [[saola]].<ref name="Laos wildlife1">{{cite web|url=https://www.namet.org/wildlife |title=Laos wildlife |website=worldbank.org |access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref> These forests shelter more than 50 mammal species and nearly 300 bird species, along with a variety of reptiles and amphibians.{{efn|“''The Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park harbors over 50 species of mammals and more than 300 species of birds, as well as many reptiles and amphibians.''”<ref name="Laos wildlife1" />}}

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Laos}}

Laos is divided into 17 [[Provinces of Laos|provinces]] (''khoueng'') and one prefecture (''kampheng nakhon''), which includes the capital city Vientiane (''Nakhon Louang Viangchan'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/laos/|title=East Asia/Southeast Asia :: |website=The World Factbook |access-date=23 May 2019|archive-date=7 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307193820/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/laos/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
{| style="float:left;"
|
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! scope="col" | No.
! scope="col" | [[Provinces of Laos|Subdivisions]]
! scope="col" | Capital
! scope="col" | Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! scope="col" | Population
|-
! 1 
| [[Attapeu province|Attapeu]] || [[Attapeu]] (Samakkhixay district) || style="text-align:right"|10,320|| style="text-align:right"|114,300
|-
! 2 
| [[Bokeo province|Bokeo]] || [[Houayxay]] (Houayxay district) || style="text-align:right"|6,196|| style="text-align:right"|149,700
|-
! 3 
| [[Bolikhamxai province|Bolikhamsai]] || [[Paksan]] ([[Paksane District]]) ||style="text-align:right"|14,863|| style="text-align:right"|214,900
|-
! 4 
| [[Champasak province|Champasak]] || [[Pakse]] (Pakse District) || style="text-align:right"|15,415|| style="text-align:right"|575,600
|-
! 5 
| [[Houaphanh Province|Houaphanh]] || [[Xam Neua]] ([[Xam Neua District|Xamneua District]]) || style="text-align:right"|16,500|| style="text-align:right"|322,200
|-
! 6 
| [[Khammouane Province|Khammouane]] || [[Thakhek]] ([[Thakhek District]]) ||style="text-align:right"|16,315|| style="text-align:right"|358,800
|-
! 7 
| [[Luang Namtha Province|Luang Namtha]] || [[Luang Namtha]] ([[Namtha District]]) || style="text-align:right"|9,325|| style="text-align:right"|150,100
|-
! 8 
| [[Luang Prabang province|Luang Prabang]] || [[Luang Prabang]] (Luang Prabang district) || style="text-align:right"|16,875|| style="text-align:right"|408,800
|-
! 9 
| [[Oudomxay Province|Oudomxay]] || [[Muang Xay]] ([[Xay District]]) || style="text-align:right"|15,370|| style="text-align:right"|275,300
|-
! 10 
| [[Phongsaly Province|Phongsaly]] || [[Phongsali]] ([[Phongsaly District]]) || style="text-align:right"|16,270|| style="text-align:right"|199,900
|-
! 11 
| [[Sainyabuli Province|Sainyabuli]] || [[Sainyabuli|Sayabouly]] ([[Xayabury District]]) || style="text-align:right"|16,389|| style="text-align:right"|382,200
|-
! 12 
| [[Salavan Province|Salavan]] || [[Salavan (city)|Salavan]] ([[Saravane District|Salavan District]]) || style="text-align:right"|10,691|| style="text-align:right"|336,600
|-
! 13 
| [[Savannakhet Province|Savannakhet]] || [[Savannakhet]] ([[Khanthaboury District|Khanthabouly District]]) || style="text-align:right"|21,774|| style="text-align:right"|721,500
|-
! 14 
| [[Sekong Province|Sekong]] || [[Sekong]] ([[Lam Mam District|Lamarm District]]) || style="text-align:right"|7,665|| style="text-align:right"|83,600
|-
! 15 
| [[Vientiane Prefecture]] || [[Vientiane]] (Chanthabouly district) || style="text-align:right"|3,920|| style="text-align:right"|1,001,477
|-
! 16 
| [[Vientiane province|Vientiane Province]] || [[Phonhong]] ([[Muang Phon-Hong|Phonhong District]]) || style="text-align:right"|15,927|| style="text-align:right"|373,700
|-
! 17 
| [[Xiangkhouang Province|Xiengkhouang]] || [[Phonsavan]] ([[Pek District]]) || style="text-align:right"|15,880|| style="text-align:right"|229,521
|-
! 18 
| [[Xaisomboun province|Xaisomboun]]|| Anouvong ([[Anouvong district]]) || style="text-align:right"|8,300|| style="text-align:right"|82,000
|}
!An updated map of Lao provinces (from 2014)<br />[[File:Provinces-Laos.svg|frameless|none|upright=1.75]]
|}
{{Clear}}