GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area—comparative:
about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)
Climate: varies;
tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central
valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrain: mostly mountainous
with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 340
sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards:
violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of
the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon;
frequent landslides during the rainy season
Environment—current
issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment—international
agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography—note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls
several key Himalayan mountain passes
