Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Note: All figures, unless otherwise indicated, are
2007 estimates.
PhysicalGeography
Southern Asia; situated between two huge countries:
India to the east, south, and the west, and China to
the north
Location
Area
Total: 56,827 square miles (147,181 square kilometers)
Land: 55,282 square miles (143,181 square kilometers)
Water: 1,544 square miles (4,000 square kilometers)
Boundaries
Border countries: China (768 miles; 1,236 kilometers);
India (1,050 miles; 1,690 kilometers); Total: 1,818 miles
(2,926 kilometers)
Varies, from tropical in the southern low, flat land to
tundra in the northern Himalayan ranges; moist sumﾭ
mer and dry winter, influenced primarily by monsoons
Climate
Terrain
Terai or lowﾭlying, flat river plain of Ganges in the
south; hilly in the central part; and rugged and snowﾭ
capped Himalayas in the north
ElevationExtremes
Contains 8 of the world's 10 highest peaks. Lowest
point is
Kechana Kalan, at 230 feet (70 meters);
highest point is Mount Everest, at 29,035 feet
(8,850 meters)
Arable land, 16.07 percent; Permanent crops,
0.85 percent (2005)
LandUse
7,270 square miles (11,700 square kilometers) (2003)
IrrigatedLand
Severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought,
and famine, depending on the timing, intensity, and
duration of the summer monsoon
NaturalHazards
NaturalResources
Hydropower, quartz, water, timber, scenic beauty,
small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore,
medicinal herbs
EnvironmentalIssues
Deforestation, water contamination, wildlife conservaﾭ
tion, vehicular emissions
People
Total: 28.9 million; males, 14,846,870; females,
14,054,920
Population
110
