 The Kingdom of Nepal covers an area of 147,181
square kilometers, and stretches 145 to 241
kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers
west to east. The country is located between
India in the south and China in the north. At
latitudes 26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes
80 and 88 degree east, Nepal is topographically
divided into three regions.
The Himalaya: The Himalayan
range makes up the northern border of the
country and represents 16% of the total area of
Nepal. Peaks like Mt. Everest (8848 m.) Kanchen
Junga (8598 m.), and Dhaulagiri (8167 m.) are
found here and sparse vegetation is found up to
4,500 m. Some of the Nepal's most beautiful
animal and plant-life are also found here.
Although rare, the snow leopard and Danphe bird
are much talked-about sights among visitors. The
people in this region produce and sell cheese
besides working as mountain-guides and porters.
Many also trade Tibet and across the boarder to
sell their gods.
The Hills: This region covers 65% of the total
land area of the country. Kathmandu, the capital
of Nepal is located here., Elevation range from
500 to 3,000 m. above sea level. During summer
the temperature reaches an average of 32 degree
Celsius. Winter are cold, temperature sometimes
reaches minus 1 degree Celsius. Areas in the
eastern hills receive more rainfall because of
the monsoon clouds, which come from the
southeast. The rivers in the west, which do not
receive much rainfall, are dependent upon the
melted snow that flows down the Himalayas. Wild
animals to be found here are the spotted
leopard, barking deer, and Himalayan black bear.
The hilly region is also popular for different
kinds of birds. Over four hundred species of
birds are found here.
The Terai: The Terai - Low Land covers 17% of
the total land area of Nepal. It provides
excellent farming land and the average elevation
of flatlands is 100 to 300 m. above sea level.
In the sub-tropical forest areas of Terai are
found, marshes and wildlife, which include the
Royal Bengal tiger, one horned rhino, and the
Gharial crocodile etc. About 48% of the
country's population occupies this region. Flat
farmlands and the region's flexible topography
have given rise to many industries. |
Geography Of Nepal
