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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 August 2017
A CO survey of the LMC has been completed in the J = 1−0 carbon monoxide emission at 2.6 mm wavelength with NANTEN. This survey has revealed the first complete sample of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in the LMC at a linear resolution of ∼ 40 pc. The GMCs exhibit a good spatial correlation with youngest stellar clusters often associated with the giant H II regions. The ages of clusters associated with GMCs are fairly young, ≲ 10 Myr, demonstrating that cluster formation is ongoing in these GMCs. In addition, compact groups of the young clusters are often found at the peak position of the GMCs, e.g., N159 and N44, while much looser groups are away from the GMCs. This suggests that the clusters are formed in groups and are dispersed as they become old.