Where the rainfall is greatest, broad-leaved evergreen rain forests are common. Where there is less rainfall, the forests have trees that lose their leaves in the dry season. Teak is the best known of these trees. In prehistoric times the dry zone was a savanna, with mixed grass and trees. Most of the delta, formerly a swamp forest, has been cleared for farms.
Mangrove forests rim the delta and portions of the coasts.
In 1989, when the country's name was changed to Myanmar, the name of the city was changed to Yangon, to reflect the ethnic diversity of the country. Rangoon is situated on a low ridge surrounded by a delta. The climate is warm and humid. The rainy season begins in May and lasts until the middle of October. There are many banks, trading corporations, shops, brokerage houses, and bazaars.