town, southern Myanmar (Burma). The town is a river port on the west bank of the main Irrawaddy (Irrawaddy River) distributary and is protected by flood-control embankments. It is linked with Yangon (Rangoon), 40 miles (65 km) east, by the Twante Canal and is the site of a diesel electric plant. The surrounding area occupies a largely swampy portion of the Irrawaddy River delta. It has a southern coastline along the Andaman Sea. Rice growing and fishing are the primary economic activities. Pop. (1993 est.) 42,000.