Irrawaddy

Irrawaddy, also spelled Ayeyarwady, is the common English name for several things associated with Myanmar and the surrounding region. The most prominent is the Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar's longest and most important river, which rises in the northern highlands and flows roughly southward for about 2,170 kilometers before reaching the Andaman Sea.

Its basin supports agriculture and population centers along its course, and its delta supports port cities, fisheries, and mangrove ecosystems. The river has historically served as a principal transportation and trade route and remains a focus of hydroelectric development, irrigation, and flood management, though such projects raise environmental and social concerns.

Beyond the river, the term Irrawaddy refers to the Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris), a small cetacean inhabiting the Ayeyarwady River and its delta and other coastal river systems in Southeast Asia. The species is endangered; threats include habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear, and reduced freshwater flows.

The Irrawaddy is also the name of an English-language news magazine and website focusing on Myanmar, with editorial offices in Bangkok and Yangon. It covers politics, society, and culture and publishes news reports, features, and analysis.