Mawlamyine

Mawlamyine

Mawlamyine, town, southeastern Myanmar (Burma). It is an important port on the Gulf of Martaban near the mouth of the Salween River. Mawlamyine was the chief town of British Burma from the Treaty of Yandabo (1826) until the annexation of Pegu in 1852. Sheltered by Bilugyun Island, it is approached from the south and lies opposite Martaban at the confluence of the Gyaing and Ataran rivers. The low hills that flank the town on the east and west are dotted with ancient pagodas, including the Kyaikthanlan, renowned for its view, and Uzina, with life-sized figures representing the four events that influenced the Buddha to become a hermit. The city lies in an area that has a sizable Mon population.

Mawlamyine has ferry service to Martaban, which is the railhead for a line to Yangon (Rangoon). Another rail line begins at Mawlamyine and ends at Ye to the south. River steamers ply the lower Salween and several of its major tributaries. Teak and rice are floated downriver for export, and there are several steam-powered rice mills and sawmills. Mawlamyine was once a busy shipbuilding centre, and it has remained an important port. It has an airport, a diesel electric plant, and a museum and is noted for its gastronomy. Mawlamyine College is affiliated with the Arts and Science University of Yangon. A state teacher-training college and a large hospital are also located there. Mawlamyine is the site of a solar-powered plant for extracting salt from seawater. Pop. (1993 est.) 307,615.