Shan Hills

The northern Shan Hills form a tangle of ridges and steep valleys between the Irrawaddy and Salween basins. The Namtu cuts westward across the highlands, breaking through the watershed on its way towards the Irrawaddy. Forest covers much of the mountain country, while flatter valleys provide places for cultivation. To the north, parallel ranges extend towards the Shweli River and the Yunnan frontier.