 The mountains of the Phi Pan Nam Range dominate the landscape of the district, which is named after the Lao River that flows through it

The district is divided into five sub-districts ("tambons"), which are further subdivided into 63 villages ("mubans").There are two townships ("thesaban tambons").Mae Lao covers parts of "tambon" Dong Mada, and Pa Ko Dam parts of "tambons" Pa Ko Dam and Chom Mok Kaeo.