Mekong Jungle

Forested hills flank the Mekong as it winds through the uplands of northern Laos. West of the river, the rugged ridges of the Sayaboury country are cut by tributary valleys; sandstone and shale form much of the high ground. The great river bends around this mountainous land on its way south, linking distant valleys even as its steep banks and wooded slopes make crossing the country difficult.