Dawei

{{Infobox settlement

| settlement_type = Capital Town

| native_name = ထားဝယ်

| official_name = Dawei

| other_name = Tavoy

| pushpin_label_position = bottom

| pushpin_map = Myanmar

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Myanmar (Burma)

| image_skyline = Dawei 13.jpg

| image_map =

| map_caption =

| seat = Dawei

| seat_type = Capital

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = {{MMR}}

| subdivision_type1 = Region

| subdivision_name1 = Tanintharyi Region

| subdivision_type2 = District

| subdivision_name2 = Dawei District

| subdivision_type3 = Township

| subdivision_name3 = Dawei Township

| unit_pref = Metric

| area_code = 59{{Cite web | url=http://en.18dao.net/Area_Code/Myanmar | title=Myanmar Area Codes | access-date=2009-04-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201164116/http://en.18dao.net/Area_Code/Myanmar | archive-date=2009-12-01 | url-status=dead }}

| area_total_km2 =

| population_as_of = 2014

| population = 146,964

| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities

| population_blank2 = Theravada Buddhism

| population_blank2_title = Religions

| population_density_km2 = auto

| population_demonym = Dawegian

| coordinates = {{coord|14|05|0|N|98|12|0|E|region:MM|display=inline}}

| leader_title = Mayor

| elevation_m =

| timezone = MMT

| utc_offset = +6.30

| website =

| name = Dawei

}}

Dawei ({{MYname|MY=ထားဝယ်|MLCTS=hta: wai}}, {{IPA|my|dəwɛ̀|pron}}; {{langx|mnw|ဓဝဲါ}}, {{IPA|mnw|həwài|pron}}; {{langx|th|ทวาย}}, RTGS: Thawai, {{IPA|th|tʰā.wāːj|pron}}; formerly known as Tavoy) is a city in south-eastern Myanmar and is the capital of the Tanintharyi Region, formerly known as the Tenasserim Division, on the eastern bank of the Dawei River. The city is about {{convert|614.3|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} southeast of Yangon. Its population (2014 estimate) is 146,964. Dawei is a port at the head of the Dawei River estuary, {{convert|30|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}. from the Andaman Sea. As a result, the city is prone to flooding during the monsoon season. Dawei People is also the name of one of Myanmar's 135 ethnic minorities.

Etymology

Dawei derives from the Mon language term hawai ({{langx|mnw|ထဝဲါ}}; {{IPA|/həwai/}}), which means 'to sit cross-legged', in reference to the Buddha's sitting posture on the palin (throne).{{Cite journal|last=Tun|first=Than|date=1988|title=Observations on the Translation and Annotation of the Royal Orders Of Burma|journal=Crossroads: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Southeast Asian Studies|volume=4|issue=1|pages=91–99|jstor=40860260}}{{Cite web|url=http://burmese.phophtawnews.org/index.php/feature/item/852-2013-11-07-04-04-57.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626130840/http://burmese.phophtawnews.org/index.php/feature/item/852-2013-11-07-04-04-57.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 June 2015|title=မွန်တို့ဌာနေ ရာမည တိုင်းက မွန် အခေါ်အဝေါ်များ|last=Banyar|first=Ko|date=7 November 2013|website=Phophtaw News Association}}

History

The area around the Dawei River estuary has been inhabited for centuries by Dawei, Mon, Kayin, and Thai mariners.

As the ancient site, Sagara City, old Dawei, which is approximately 6 miles north of the present city, has so many traces of Pyu culture, it was recognized as one of the province capitals in the ancient Pyu era. The evidence of burial urns, beads, coins and other features of Pyu culture have been excavated in the area by the Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Myanmar.

From the 11th to the 13th centuries, Dawei was part of the Pagan Empire. From 1287 to 1564, Dawei became part of the Sukhothai Kingdom and its successor, the Ayutthaya Kingdom (Siam). From 1564 to 1594, Dawei was part of the Toungoo Kingdom of Burma. Siam temporarily regained the city between 1594 and 1614. From 1614 to the 1740s, Dawei was the southernmost city under Burmese authority and was defended by a Burmese garrison. In the late 1740s, during the Burmese civil war of 1740–1757, Dawei, along with the northern Tenasserim coast, was taken over by Siam. Burma regained the city in 1760 and extended its control over the entire Tenasserim coast, in 1765. The Tenasserim coast was ceded to the British after the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826).

After independence in 1948, the city became part of the Tenasserim Division, which also included today's Mon State. In 1974, Mon State was carved out of Tenasserim and Dawei became the capital of the truncated division. In 1989, the city's English name was changed from Tavoy to Dawei, and Tenasserim became Tanintharyi.

Climate

Dawei features an extreme tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am), similar to Sittwe further north-west. There is a substantial dry season from November to March, but in the wet season the influence of local mountains causes Dawei to receive as much as {{convert|1300|mm|in|}} precipitation per month. Apart from the Chocó region of Colombia, and the area around Mount Cameroon in Africa, it is possibly the wettest lowland tropical region in the world.

{{Weather box|width = auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|location = Dawei (1991–2020)

|Jan record high C = 37.0

|Feb record high C = 38.3

|Mar record high C = 39.0

|Apr record high C = 40.7

|May record high C = 38.9

|Jun record high C = 36.1

|Jul record high C = 37.8

|Aug record high C = 34.5

|Sep record high C = 37.2

|Oct record high C = 37.2

|Nov record high C = 37.8

|Dec record high C = 37.5

|year record high C =

|Jan record low C = 10.0

|Feb record low C = 10.6

|Mar record low C = 12.5

|Apr record low C = 16.8

|May record low C = 20.0

|Jun record low C = 20.0

|Jul record low C = 20.0

|Aug record low C = 20.0

|Sep record low C = 20.5

|Oct record low C = 16.7

|Nov record low C = 11.1

|Dec record low C = 8.9

|year record low C =

|Jan high C = 33.6

|Feb high C = 34.5

|Mar high C = 35.3

|Apr high C = 35.5

|May high C = 32.4

|Jun high C = 29.9

|Jul high C = 29.0

|Aug high C = 28.8

|Sep high C = 29.8

|Oct high C = 32.2

|Nov high C = 33.5

|Dec high C = 33.3

| year high C = 32.3

|Jan mean C = 26.0

|Feb mean C = 26.9

|Mar mean C = 28.3

|Apr mean C = 29.4

|May mean C = 28.0

|Jun mean C = 26.5

|Jul mean C = 25.8

|Aug mean C = 25.7

|Sep mean C = 26.2

|Oct mean C = 27.3

|Nov mean C = 27.1

|Dec mean C = 26.0

| year mean C = 26.9

|Jan low C = 18.5

|Feb low C = 19.4

|Mar low C = 21.3

|Apr low C = 23.2

|May low C = 23.6

|Jun low C = 23.1

|Jul low C = 22.6

|Aug low C = 22.6

|Sep low C = 22.6

|Oct low C = 22.4

|Nov low C = 20.7

|Dec low C = 18.7

| year low C = 21.6

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 9.5

|Feb precipitation mm = 14.6

|Mar precipitation mm = 40.9

|Apr precipitation mm = 111.4

|May precipitation mm = 541.7

|Jun precipitation mm = 977.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 1339.4

|Aug precipitation mm = 1325.1

|Sep precipitation mm = 807.7

|Oct precipitation mm = 259.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 52.2

|Dec precipitation mm = 6.7

| year precipitation mm = 5485.7

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 1.0

|Feb precipitation days = 1.4

|Mar precipitation days = 3.5

|Apr precipitation days = 5.6

|May precipitation days = 20.1

|Jun precipitation days = 26.9

|Jul precipitation days = 28.8

|Aug precipitation days = 28.3

|Sep precipitation days = 24.9

|Oct precipitation days = 16.6

|Nov precipitation days = 3.9

|Dec precipitation days = 0.9

|year precipitation days = 161.9

|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web

| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Myanmar/CSV/Dawei_48108.csv

| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020

| publisher = World Meteorological Organization

| access-date = 16 October 2023}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=global-summary-of-the-day&stations=48108099999&startDate=1700-01-01&endDate=2023-12-31&dataTypes=MAX,MIN,PRCP

| title = Global Surface Summary of the Day - GSOD

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = January 26, 2023

}}

|source 2 = Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial (records){{cite web| url = http://www.globalbioclimatics.org/pdf/my-tavoy.pdf

| title = Tavoy (Myanmar)| publisher = Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas| access-date = 13 December 2018}}}}

Transport

Image:Daweiairport.jpg]]

Only recently was Dawei connected to the rest of Myanmar by road and rail. A transnational highway and a railway line across the Tenasserim Hills connecting Dawei and Bangkok{{cite news |title=Dawei Road could endanger forests and wildlife - Report |url=https://www.bnionline.net/en/news/dawei-road-could-endanger-forests-and-wildlife-report |access-date=3 August 2019 |agency=Burma News International |date=12 July 2019}} are planned if a proposed deep water port project goes ahead.{{Cite web |url=http://www.eria.org/publications/research_project_reports/images/pdf/y2009/no7-1/Appendix1.pdf |title=Table A1-1-1a. Prospective projects in Mekong sub-region |access-date=2012-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504180413/http://www.eria.org/publications/research_project_reports/images/pdf/y2009/no7-1/Appendix1.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-04 |url-status=dead }} This port could significantly reduce Singapore-bound traffic when completed.{{Cite news| url=http://www.smetimes.in/smetimes/news/top-stories/2013/Aug/12/india-to-link-Myanmar-port-to-boost-connectivity-with629899.html |work=SME Times| date=12 August 2013|last=Narayan|first=Ranjana|title=India to link Myanmar port to boost connectivity with ASEAN}}

=Dawei Airport=

The airport serves as the domestic airport for the city of Dawei and the neighbouring towns. The government plans to upgrade the airport to serve as a hub for tourism.

=Dawei Railway Station=

It is the southernmost station and terminus in Myanmar. However the railway was partly constructed for a further 40 km approximately to the south towards Min Dat bridge and south Myanmar. Work ceased on this line in about 2012 but several partly constructed sections with bridges over rivers are visible on Google Earth.

Economy

There are plans to construct a deep water port in Dawei.{{cite news|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/chinas-horizons-extend-southwards.html|access-date=2011-01-06|work=Railway Gazette International|title=China's horizons extend southwards|date=4 January 2011|archive-date=2012-11-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102095122/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/chinas-horizons-extend-southwards.html|url-status=dead}} In November 2010, the Myanmar Port Authority signed a US$8.6 billion deal with Italian-Thai Development to develop the seaport at Dawei.{{cite news|url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/561/biz56102.html|title=SPDC signs Special Economic Zone law into effect on Jan 27|author=Aye Thidar Kyaw|author2=Stuart Deed|date=7 February 2011|work=Myanmar Times|access-date=23 August 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916034459/http://www.mmtimes.com/2011/business/561/biz56102.html|archive-date=16 September 2011}} The Dawei Special Economic Zone would become Myanmar's first special economic zone (SEZ), which includes plans to develop a {{convert|250|km2|mi2}} industrial estate, with sea, land (railway and road) infrastructure links to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as a gas pipeline to Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province and commercial and residential developments.{{cite news |url=http://www.mmtimes.com/2010/business/549/biz54901.html |title=Dawei deep-sea port, SEZ gets green light |last=Thein Linn |date=4 November 2010 |work=Myanmar Times |access-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831134828/http://www.mmtimes.com/2010/business/549/biz54901.html |archive-date=31 August 2011 }}{{Cite news| title = Italian-Thai takes lead in delayed Dawei| last = Calderon| first = Justin| work = Investvine.com| date = 30 October 2012| url = http://investvine.com/italian-thai-takes-lead-in-delayed-dawei/| access-date = 2013-02-27| archive-date = 2013-02-02| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130202063839/http://investvine.com/italian-thai-takes-lead-in-delayed-dawei/| url-status = dead}}

The development of the SEZ has been linked to land confiscations and land grabs from farmers of upwards of {{convert|63,768|acre|ha}} (direct) and {{convert|153,919|acre|ha}}, potentially displacing 500,000 Dawei natives.{{cite web|last=Loewen|first=Elizabeth|date=September 2012|title=Land Grabbing in Dawei (Myanmar/Burma): a (Inter)national Human Rights Concern|website=Transnational Institute|url=http://www.tni.org/sites/www.tni.org/files/download/dawei_land_grab.pdf}}{{nonspecific|date=May 2020}} The project has been opposed by a significant portion of the local ethnic population.{{cite news |last1=Wangkiat |first1=Paritta |title=Thai TV series give ugly truths a rosy hue |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1923612/thai-tv-series-give-ugly-truths-a-rosy-hue |access-date=25 May 2020 |work=Bangkok Post |date=25 May 2020 |department=Opinion}}

Dawei longyis (sarong) are one of the area's well-known products.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/pages/daweiwea.html |title=Dawei Traditional Longyi Weaving Art inc. video |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006185408/http://www.mrtv3.net.mm/pages/daweiwea.html |archive-date=2007-10-06 }} The area produces rubber, dried fish, and teakwood. It also produces cashew nuts and betel nuts and exports them through local traders to China, India, and Thailand. Dawei is also known for its variety of tropical fruits such as pineapples, a variety of mangoes, mangosteens, and durian. There is one fruit called zin thi (in Dawei language), which can only be found in Dawei and surrounding areas.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}