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Bhutan is situated on the
southeast slope of the
Himalayas, bordered on the
north and east by Tibet and
on the south and west and
east by India. The landscape
consists of a succession of
lofty and rugged mountains
and deep valleys. In the
north, towering peaks reach
a height of 24,000 ft (7,315
m). Bhutan's various cities
have the following altitude.
Paro (2,200m) Thimphu
(2,300m) Trongsa (2,300m)
Punakha (1,300m) Wangdi
(1,300m) Trongsa (2,300m)
Bumthang (2,600m)
The Himalayas dominate the
north of the country, where
mountain peaks can easily
reach seven thousand meters;
the highest point is claimed
to be the Kula Kangri, at 7
553 m. Weather is extreme in
the mountains: the high
peaks have perpetual snow,
and the lesser mountains and
hewn gorges have high winds
all year round, making them
barren brown wind tunnels in
summer, and frozen
wastelands in winter. The
blizzards generated in the
north each winter often
drifts southward into the
central highlands.
The valleys of Bhutan are
linked by a series of passes
("La" in Dzongkha). Between
the Haa valley and Paro
Valley is the Chele La
(3780m). The Chele La is the
highest pass crossed by a
Bhutanese highway. The
Lateral Road from Thimphu to
Punakha crosses the Dochu La
(3116m), which features 108
chortens built to
commemorate the expulsion of
Assamese guerrillas. East of
Wangdue Phodrang is the Pele
La (3390m). Continuing to
the east along the main
highway, other major passes
include the Yotang La,
Shertang La, Wangthang La,
Thrumsing La and Kori La
(2298m).
The extreme southern strip
of the nation consists
mostly of tropical plains,
more typical of India. It is
largely agricultural land,
producing mostly rice. Only
two percent of Bhutan is
arable land, with most of it
focused here.
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