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Geography of Bhutan

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 carbonate
Land use:arable land: 2.3%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 97.27% (2005)
Irrigated land:400 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:violent storms 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Bhutan Quickstats

  • Population: 2,327,849
  • Area: 47,000 sq km
  • Density: 45 /km² (149th)
  • GDP (total): $3.007 billion (160th)
  • GDP (per capita): $1,400 (117th)
  • Literacy: 47%

Languages of Bhutan

Useful to know

  • Currency: Ngultrum (BTN)
  • Dial code: +975

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