The Mergui Archipelago (also Myeik Archipelago or Myeik Kyunzu; ) is located in far southern Myanmar (Burma) and is part of the Tanintharyi Region. It consists of more than 800 islands, varying in size from very small to hundreds of square kilometres, all lying in the Andaman Sea off the western shore of the Malay Peninsula near its landward (northern) end where it joins the rest of Indochina. They are occasionally referred to as the Pashu Islands because the Malay inhabitants are locally called Pashu. Environment Geologically, the islands are characterized mainly by limestone and granite. They are generally covered with thick tropical growth, including rainforest, and their shorelines are punctuated by beaches, rocky headlands, and in some places, mangrove swamps. Offshore are extensive coral reefs. The archipelago's virtual isolation from most of mankind's influence on the natural environment has given the islands and the surrounding waters of the Andaman Sea a great diversity of flora and fauna, contributing to the region's growing popularity as a diving destination, representing endangered megafaunas such as whale sharks and dugongs. The area is also important for migrating cetaceans and the "Whale Bay" in the east of Kanmaw Kyun was named historical presences of large number of whales. Such variety includes resident population of Bryde's whales, occasional blue whales, longman's beaked whales, strap-toothed whales, and killer whales, dolphins, finless porpoises, and Irrawaddy dolphins. On the islands themselves, various animals thrive, including deer, monkeys, tropical birds including hornbills, and wild swine. There are even unconfirmed reports of Sumatran rhinoceros on Lanbi, one of the bigger islands, but this has been widely discredited. Environmental threats to the region include overfishing and also blast fishing. Myanmar's current military government, the "State Peace and Development Council", has not done much to deal with these problems. Geography The largest and highest island is Kadan Kyun at 767 metres across the inland channel from Myeik. Other important islands are: Auriol Island Bentinck Kyun Christie Island, the southernmost island of the group Daung Kyun Kabosa Island Kadan Kyun Kanmaw Kyun Lamin Island Lanbi Kyun Letsok-aw Kyun Mali Kyun, the northernmost island of the group Money Island Sabi Island Saganthit Kyun Tenasserim Island Thahtay Kyun Than Kyun Thayawthadangyi Zadetkyi History The archipelago was likely first settled by Malay sailors who arrived from the south. However, it remained largely uninhabited until the 20th century. Malays and Chinese traders used the inner waters to