|
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. |