The Beauty of Myeik Archipelago and the life of "Salon"


Among the geographical beauties of the Union of Myanmar, many treasures are in the depths existing beneath the archipelago waters to this day. Myeik Archipelago comprises over 800 islands covering an area of 10,000 sq. miles. Several expeditions have been undertaken to survey the undersea ecosystems and biodiversity. Lumpi Island is located at Lat 10º50´N and Long 98ºE. From north to south, about 31 miles long and about 7 miles wide. The total area of Lumpi Island is about 79 square miles.

Lumpi can be reached from Myeik, about 90 nautical miles southwest, 30 miles west from Bokpyin and 60 miles northwest from Kawthaung. This beautiful island of Lumpi is totally untouched; with a rich history of maritime trade and mysticism. The modern day, Mergui Archipelago, is as it was days gone by. The archipelago is virtually isolated but you will find the islands and surrounding seas alive with amazing diversity of wildlife, flora and fauna. Parrots, hornbills, sea eagles and herons fill the skies. On land, the animal population includes monkeys, wild cattle, elephants, deer, wild pigs, crocodiles, tigers and rhinoceros.

Crab eating maquekes-the monkeys can be seen here on the shoreline. The only human inhabitants in this beautiful area are the sea gypsies, a nomadic seafaring race. The Moken-sea gypsy-village, their life style is very simple. Their life style has changed very little over the years. The sea gypsies have been the sole inhabitants of the Mergui Archipelago over the years and they still use the same fishing and boat building techniques, which they have been using for many generations. Lumpi offers a great variety of breathtaking scenery and wildlife, with more luxuriant evergreen forests, beach and dune forests, tidal mangroves, magnificent beaches and spectacular coral formation.

The forests that grow on the island have a variety of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems and inhabitants. The surrounding waters are rich in bird life, fish marine, mammals (dolphins) and marine turtles.
Lumpi Island and the surrounding groups of islands with expansive beaches of high quality sand and offshore corals make Lumpi worthy of being designated as a nature reserve and also being developed as a tourist attraction for Marine Tourism.