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Geography of Bhutan

This article describes the geography of Bhutan.

; Location:

South Asia, between China and India
; Geographic coordinates:
27° 30′ N, 90° 30′ E
; Map references:
Asia
; Area:
  • Total: 47,000 km²
Land: 47,000 km²
Water: 0 km²
; 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 km² (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

Reference

Much of the material in this article was adapted from the
CIA World Factbook 2000.