Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of
Michigan. Lansing itself was called
Michigan until 1848. The city lies in a
shallow valley that is shaped like a cup.
The Grand and Red Cedar rivers flow
through the city.
The state Capitol stands in Capitol
Square, in the center of the city. The
building was completed in 1878.
Businesses that provide services are
important to Lansing’s economy. Many
people there work in government,
banking, insurance, computers, and
education. Michigan State University is
in the nearby city of East Lansing.
Factories in Lansing make cars and
other products.
Lansing was settled in the 1830s. In
1847 the state capital was moved to
Lansing from Detroit. The site at that
time was still mostly wilderness. In the
early 1900s a company started to make
cars called Oldsmobiles in Lansing.
After that the city’s industries began to
grow.
..More to explore
Michigan
Michigan’s state Capitol is in a park in the
center of Lansing.
106 Lansing BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Laos
Laos is a country of Southeast Asia. It
was once a powerful kingdom. Later it
was ruled by Thailand and then France
before regaining its independence. Vientiane
is Laos’ capital and largest city.
Laos borders China, Vietnam, Cambodia,
Thailand, and Myanmar. The
Mekong River forms part of Laos’ western
border. Lowlands lie along the
Mekong. Forested mountains cover the
rest of the land.
Teak trees grow in the south. In the
north are tropical rain forests. Elephants,
tigers, leopards, monkeys, bears, and
deer live in the forests.
Most of Laos’ people live in rural areas.
The Lao-Lum people form the largest
ethnic group. The next largest groups
are the Lao-Theung (or Mon-Khmer),
the Lao-Tai, and the Lao-Soung. Most
people are Buddhists or spirit worshippers.
The main language is Lao.
Laos is a poor country with an economy
based on farming. The chief crop is rice.
Other crops include sugarcane, corn,
sweet potatoes, and pineapples. Many
people fish and raise pigs, water buffalo,
and cattle. Laos also produces clothing,
wood, coffee, and tin.
The rulers of Lan Xang (Kingdom of the
Million Elephants) unified Laos in the
1300s. Later kingdoms fell under the
rule of Siam (now Thailand). France
ruled the region from the late 1800s.
Laos gained independence in 1954. In
1975 a Communist group called the
Pathet Lao took control. The new government
ruled harshly, and many people
fled. A new constitution in 1991 gave
the people more freedom.
..More to explore
Mekong River • Vientiane
People can climb to the top of the Patuxai
Arch in Vientiane, Laos, for a clear view of
the city.
Facts About
LAOS
Population
(2008 estimate)
5,963,000
Area
91,429 sq mi
(236,800 sq km)
Capital
Vientiane
Form of
government
People’s republic
Major cities
Vientiane, Savannakhet,
Pakxe,
Xam Nua
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Laos 107
La Paz
Population
(2001 census),
city, 789,585;
(2005
estimate), urban
area,
1,527,000
The South American country of Bolivia
has two capitals: La Paz and Sucre. The
country’s president and lawmakers meet
in La Paz. It is the administrative capital.
The Supreme Court of Bolivia meets in
Sucre, the legal capital.
La Paz is the highest national capital in
the world. It lies more than 10,000 feet
(3,050 meters) above sea level. Most of
La Paz is located within a canyon.
La Paz is a center of business and industry.
Many people in the city work in
government and business offices,
schools, hotels, stores, and banks. Factories
in La Paz make processed foods,
cloth, jewelry, and other goods.
Aymara Indians have long lived in the
La Paz area. Hundreds of years ago the
Inca had a village on the site. A Spanish
conqueror founded the city in 1548. He
named it Nuestra Senora de La Paz,
which means “Our Lady of Peace.”
Spain ruled the area until 1825. In that
year Bolivia became an independent
country. La Paz became its administrative
capital in 1898.
..More to explore
Bolivia • Sucre
Larch
Larches are trees that belong to the pine
family. They are conifers, which means
that they grow cones. Most conifers are
evergreens, or trees that keep their leaves
all year long. Larches are unusual
because they shed their leaves in the
autumn.
Larches grow mainly in cool areas in
the northern half of the world. One
species, or kind, of larch grows only in
the Himalaya Mountains of southern
Asia.
Skyscrapers line the streets of La Paz, Bolivia.
108 La Paz BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Larches have needle-shaped leaves that
grow in clusters. New cones on the trees
are bright red. Later the cones turn
brown.
There are 10 to 12 species of larch. The
most common North American larch is
the eastern larch, also called the tamarack
or hackmatack. It takes about 100
to 200 years for the eastern larch to
become fully grown. In that time it may
reach a height of 40 to 100 feet (12 to
30 meters). Two other kinds of larch, the
western larch and the European larch,
grow even taller. The European larch
may grow as tall as 140 feet (42 meters).
The wood of larches is strong, hard, and
heavy. It is used to make ships, telephone
poles, and railroad ties.
#More to explore
Conifer • Pine • Tree
La Salle, Sieur de
