Karen State

Karen State lies between 15* 12' N and 19* 28' N latitudes and 96* 23' E and 98* 56' E longitudes on the east of Myanmar. It has common borders with Mandalay Division and Shan State on the north, Kayah State and Thailand on the east, Mon State and Pegu Division on the west. Its area is 11731 square miles.

Together with Sagaw Karens, Po Karens, Bwe Karens and Pako Karens, Shans, Paos, Burmans and Mons also live in Karen State. The State Day falls on 7th November and the capitalis Pa-an.

Principal crops cultivated are paddy, groundnut, sesamum, tobacco, betel nut, sugar-cane and rubber. Its natural resources include iron, lead, copper, tin, antimony and tungsten. Over half the area of the State is covered with evergreen forests that produce valuable teak and pyinkado and other woods.

Places of interest

• Mt. Zwegabin (Symbol of Peace)
• Saddan Cave & Bayint Nyi Cave
• Thandaung Hill Resort