Salin Township

The town of Salin was established in 1194 by Sithu II during the Bagan Kingdom. The town's oldest stupas were also built at the same time, including the Pyidaw Oo Pagoda and a shrine to the nat (deity) Shin Saw Wa on the Wetthe Lake just west of the town. The town was destroyed during the turmoil following the collapse of the Bagan Kingdom but was rebuilt in its final establishment in 1370. The 14th century walls lasted until 1887.^[2]

Prior to colonisation, the Salin area has been historically home to many hereditary noble families, with lesser nobles controlling various rural farmlands in the wider Minbu District. The title associated with Salin was one of six non-royal landowner titles notable for each coming with more than 100,000 acres of land and the farmers who cultivated lands for these nobles were said to have gained more merit. "Salin" itself eventually became a title for nobles who used it as an honorific since the 17th century.^[3] The economy of this period relied heavily on peasants entering monetary bondage contracts with the nobles of Salin called Thet-Kayits. The peasants performed household or agricultural work to payoff their indentured servitude. These contracts were regulated towards the late Konbaung Dynasty with time limits placed on the contract of servitude by the reign of Mindon Min.^[4] Mindon Min, further gave his most beloved daughter control of tax-rich Salin district as a myosa.^[5] During British rule in Burma, Salin Township was established as part of the Magway Division. The famous writer Theippan Maung Wa worked for a period as a civil servant in Salin Township.^[2]

The township has remained as such to this day. In 1972, the township was officially redivided into 6 new urban wards and 102 village tracts.^[2] In March 2015, the town of Sinphyukyun was established by Legal Notification 356/2015 within the township.^[6] The township was last reorganised in 2018 to bring the number of village tracts down to the modern 99 tracts.^[1]

Salin Township lies along the Irrawaddy River in central Myanmar's Dry Zone region. It is predominantly a low-lying part of the Irrawaddy valley with the elevation rising towards its west where some hills can be found. The most prominent mountain is Mt. Nwama in the township's west, but the highest point, Mt. Yayyo, lies at the tripoint with Saw Township and Seikphyu Township in the north at an elevation of 2,083 feet (635 m). The Salin River flows within the township for 32 miles (51 km) eastwards into the Irrawaddy River, which flows from north to south. There are several populated riverine islands within the township, particularly in the east.^[1]

The climate of the township is described as dry and hot. The temperature in the township ranges from a high of 44°C to a low of 8.3°C. The area receives an average of 22.9 inches (58 cm) of rain over 46 days a year. 25.14% of the township is forested with 17.79% of the township falling within protected forests. The township has Tectona teak, catechu, htanaung, karoi and bamboo trees. It is home to fauna including muntjac, wild boars, gibbons and other smaller animals.^[1] The Wetthegan Wildlife Sanctuary, one of four protected weltands in Myanmar is located in the township where a lower-lying area of about 1.7 square miles (4.4 km²) creates a marshland environment alongside the eponymous Wetthe Lake that receives 28.5 inches (72 cm) of rain each year.^[7] The wetlands host the near-threatened Ferruginous duck.^[8]