Wolfgang's photos with the keyword: Salaween

On the way 42 km to Ban Mae Sam Laeb we passed this archaic temple on the hill which mostly is unnoticed by the by traveling tourists. Our stopover was worth for a brief sightseeing at this beautiful temple building construction.

With an approximate length of 2,400 km, the mighty Salween River is one of the longest rivers in the region. It is an international river, originating from Tangula Mountain of the Himalayas in the Tibetan plateau. The Salween then flows southward through Yunnan Province of China, down through Shan and Kayah States in the East of Burma (Myanmar), and along the Thai-Burma border, passing through Kayan and Mon States (Burma), and emptying near Mawlamyine (Moulmein) into the Gulf of Martaban in the Andaman Sea. Burmese name of the river is the "Thanlwin river".

In the Burma and Thailand regions, the Salween basin topography is mountainous, with long narrow river valleys. The basin is rich with natural resources, including water (surface and ground), forest, wildlife, fishery and aquatic life, and minerals. Part of the basin in Thailand is national park and wildlife sanctuary. Its beautiful landscapes include many caves, rapids, cliffs, unusual rocks, and waterfalls that serve as tourist attractions. An spectacle destination for individual travelers and nature lovers.

The people who live in the Salween basin are a diverse ethnic community, and come from many different ethnic groups. They rely mostly on lowland rice paddy farming, and upland swidden cultivation. The areas along the river south of China have suffered a long history of conflict and political unrest, with the Burmese army nearly always being the aggressor.