How Big Is Laos?

Laos covers approximately 236,800 square kilometers, making it roughly the size of the United Kingdom or slightly smaller than the state of Oregon. Despite its modest size, the country's mountainous terrain means travel times between destinations can be longer than distances suggest.

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The country stretches about 1,000 kilometers from north to south and varies in width from 100 to 400 kilometers. Much of this area is covered by mountains and dense forest, with only about 5% of the land considered arable.

The mountainous geography means that what looks like a short distance on a map may require several hours of winding road travel. This is why many travelers opt for domestic flights or the new Laos-China Railway to cover longer distances efficiently.

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