Maubin (Myanmar)

Maubin is an Irrawaddy River cruise port and town in southwest Burma (Myanmar), with population around 42,000. Twante Canal (opened in 1932) connects Maubin with Yangon (Rangoon), located approx 65 km (40 mi) to the east.

During Cyclone Nargis (early-May 2008), Burma's military provided convoys to help refugees to Maubin. This extremely severe storm caused Burma's worst natural disaster. May 2nd's landfall sent a water surge some 40 km (25 mi) up Irrawaddy Delta. The disaster resulted in catastrophic destructions (damages estimated at over USD 10 billion) and death toll nearly 140,000 (including ~55,000 missing).

The town Maubin is protected from overflows via flood-control embankments. Its southern coastline is along Andaman Sea (eastern Indian Ocean). Fishing and rice-growing are local economy's main contributors, as well as communication and transportation services.

Among the best-known tourist attractions are Paw Taw Mu Ceti pagoda (on Toe River in the town's southern part). Shwe Phone Myint Ceti pagoda (built in late 19th-century), also the pagodas Akyawsulyanmyattonetan and Shwephonemyint.