"This increase is putting a large strain on public finance, " says Kawai of the World Bank.

CNN: Asia's Memory Lapse

Beyond that, the strain of being large overcomes the benefits of a longer stride, says Dr MacNulty.

ECONOMIST: Controlling the size of predators

The rapidly increasing number of foreigners visiting Burma is putting a strain on those airlines, which offer the only way of getting around such a large country with very poor roads and railways, he says.

BBC: Burma Air Bagan emergency landing kills two at Heho