Geography of Nepal
Location: | Southern Asia, between China and India |
Geographic coordinates: | 28 00 N, 84 00 E |
Map references: | Asia |
Area: | total: 147,181 sq km land: 143,181 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: | Tarai 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 |
Natural resources: | quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore |
Land use: | arable land: 16.07% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 83.08% (2005) |
Irrigated land: | 11,700 sq km (2003) |
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation |
Geography - note: | landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively |