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About Nepal |
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| Geography |
| Himalayas, Hills & Terai |
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The Kingdom of Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, and stretches 145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers west to east. The country is located between India in the south and China in the north. |
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At latitudes 26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88 degrees east, Nepal is topographically divided into three regions: the Himalaya to the north, the hills consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills, and the Terai to the south.Elevations are varied in the kingdom. The highest point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the lowest point (70 m above sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District. Altitude increases as you travel south to north.To the north temperatures are below -40 degrees Celsius and in the Terai, temperatures rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. During June, July and August, the kingdom is influenced by monsoon clouds. |
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The Himalayas
The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country and represents 15% of the total land area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt. Everest (8848 m), Kanchenjunga (8598 m), and Dhaulagiri (8137 m) are found here and sparse vegetation is found up to 4,500 m. Some of Nepal's most beautiful animal and plant life are also found here. Although rare, the snow leopard and danphe (Lophophorous) bird are much talked about sights among visitors. The people in this region produce and sell cheese besides working as porters and guides. Many also trade with Tibet and travel across the border to sell their goods. |
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The Hills
This region covers 68% of the total land area of the country. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal is located here. Elevations range from 500 to 3000 m above sea level. During summer the temperature reaches an average of 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold, temperature reaching -1 degree Celsius sometimes. Areas in the eastern hills receive more rainfall because of the monsoon clouds which come from the south-east. The rivers in the west which do not receive much rainfall are depending upon the melted snow that flow down the Himalaya. 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 400 species of birds are found here. The people in this region have gained from the growth in the tourism industry. The people here work as trekking guides and porters and also sell garments and carpets to add to their income. |
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Terai
The Terai covers 17% of the total land area of Nepal. It provides excellent farming land and the average elevations of flatlands is 100 to 300 m above sea-level. Sub-tropical forest areas, marshes, and wildlife which include the Royal Bengal tiger, one-horned rhino, and the gharial crocodile are found here.
After the eradication of malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the Terai in search of farming land. Today, about 48% of the country's population occupies this region. Flat farmlands and the region's flexible topography have given rise to many industries. The main industrial towns are Biratnagar, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Birgunj, Janakpur. Kolkata, a metropolitan city in India is the closest sea-port. It lies 1,000 kilometers away from Birgunj. |
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