Which is the longest river of Myanmar?

The Irrawaddy (officially spelt Ayeyarwady) is the longest river of Myanmar, about 2,170 km long. It flows from north to south through almost the entire length of the country and is its most important commercial waterway.

Course of the Irrawaddy:

It is formed in the far north of Myanmar, in Kachin State, by the confluence of the N'mai and Mali rivers, which rise in the eastern Himalayan region. The confluence lies north of the town of Myitkyina.

It flows south through the central dry zone of Myanmar, past Mandalay, the ancient city of Bagan (with thousands of Buddhist temples and pagodas) and Magway.

In its lower course it forms a large, fertile delta, which is one of the main rice-growing areas of South-East Asia.

It empties into the Andaman Sea through several mouths.

Yangon (Rangoon), the largest city and former capital, lies on the Yangon river in the eastern part of the delta.

Tributaries:

The Chindwin is its largest tributary, joining it from the west near Myingyan.

Importance:

• The Irrawaddy has been the heart of Myanmar's civilisation, with ancient capitals such as Bagan, Ava, Amarapura and Mandalay built on or near it.
• It is a major transport route for goods and people.
• It is home to the Irrawaddy dolphin, a threatened species also found in Chilika Lake in Odisha, India, and the Mekong.
• Cyclone Nargis in 2008 caused massive loss of life in the Irrawaddy delta.

Other rivers of Myanmar:

• The Salween (Thanlwin) rises in the Tibetan plateau and flows through eastern Myanmar into the Andaman Sea near Mawlamyine.
• The Sittaung flows between the Irrawaddy and Salween valleys.

The Kaladan flows from Mizoram into Myanmar's Rakhine State. India's Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project uses this river and the port of Sittwe.

Why not the other options?

• ✗The Salween is long but much of its course is in China.
• ✗The Chindwin is the main tributary of the Irrawaddy.
• ✗The Sittaung is a shorter river in central Myanmar.