Thandwe ("Thandway" in Arakanese; ; formerly Sandoway), historically called Dwaraddy, is a town and major seaport in Rakhine State, the westernmost part of Myanmar.

Geography

Thandwe is very ancient, and is said to have been at one time the capital of Rakhine State, then called Arakan. The district has an area of 3784 sqmi. The area is mountainous, and spurs of the Arakan Mountains reach the coast. Some of the peaks in the north are over 4,000 ft high. The streams are only mountain torrents to within a few miles of the coast; the mouth of the Khwa forms a good anchorage for small boats. The rocks in the Arakan Range and its spurs are metamorphic, and include clay, slates, ironstone and indurated sandstone; towards the south, ironstone, trap and rocks of basaltic character are common; veins of steatite and white fibrous quartz are also found. Between 1961 and 1990, the mean annual rainfall was 5323 mm. Nearby Ngapali Beach is popular among tourists.

Recent history

During the Myanmar civil war, the town was the site of clashes between the Arakan Army and Myanmar's military, with the Arakan Army taking control of Ngapali beach and several military outposts surrounding the town. According to reports, the Arakan Army seized the town's prison on 15 July 2024, with the town's remaining military battalions falling the next day and giving the Arakan Army full control of the town.

Climate

Thandwe has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). Temperatures are very warm throughout the year. There is a winter dry season (November–April) and a summer wet season (May–October). Torrential rain falls from June to September, with over 1200 mm falling in each of the months of June, July and August. The rainfall in 1905 was 230.49 in.