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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Laos
Index
Because of its mountainous topography and lack of
development,
Laos has few reliable transportation routes. This
inaccessibility
has historically limited the ability of any government to
maintain
a presence in areas distant from the national or
provincial
capitals and has limited interchange and communication
among
villages and ethnic groups
(see Transportation and Telecommunications
, ch. 3). The Mekong and Nam Ou are the
only
natural channels suitable for large-draft boat
transportation, and
from December through May low water limits the size of the
craft
that may be used over many routes. Laotians in lowland
villages
located on the banks of smaller rivers have traditionally
traveled
in pirogues for fishing, trading, and visiting up and down
the
river for limited distances. Otherwise, travel is by
ox-cart over
level terrain or by foot. The steep mountains and lack of
roads
have caused upland ethnic groups to rely entirely on pack
baskets
and horse packing for transportation.
The road system is not extensive. However, a
rudimentary
network begun under French colonial rule and continued
from the
1950s has provided an important means of increased
intervillage
communication, movement of market goods, and a focus for
new
settlements. In mid-1994, travel in most areas was
difficult and
expensive, and most Laotians traveled only limited
distances, if at
all. As a result of ongoing improvements in the road
system during
the early 1990s, however, it is expected that in the
future
villagers will more easily be able to seek medical care,
send
children to schools at district centers, and work outside
the
village.
Data as of July 1994
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