| Location: |
Southern Asia, between China and India
|
| Geographic coordinates: |
28 00 N, 84 00 E
|
| Area: |
total:
140,800 sq km
land:
136,800 sq km
water:
4,000 sq km
|
| Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than Arkansas
|
| Land boundaries: |
total:
2,926 km
border countries:
China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
|
| Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked)
|
| Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked)
|
| Climate: |
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
|
| Terrain: |
Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
|
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point:
Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point:
Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999 est.)
|
| Natural resources: |
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
|
| Land use: |
arable land:
17%
permanent crops:
0%
permanent pastures:
15%
forests and woodland:
42%
other:
26% (1993 est.)
|
| Irrigated land: |
8,500 sq km (1993 est.)
|
| Natural hazards: |
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
|
| Environment - current issues: |
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
|
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
|
| Geography - note: |
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks
|
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