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Geography of Nepal

This article describes the geography of Nepal.

; Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India
; Geographic coordinates:
28° 00′ N, 84° 00′ E
; Map references:
Asia
; Area:
  • Total: 140,800 km²
Land: 136,800 km²
Water: 4,000 km²
; 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:
Terai 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 (1999 est.), the highest mountain on Earth as measured from sea level
; Natural resources:
Quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
; Land use:
  • Arable land: 20.27%
Permanent crops: 0.49%
Other: 79.24% (1998 est.)
; Irrigated land:
11,350 sq km (1998 est.)
; 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
; Geography - note:
Landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

References

Information from the
CIA World Factbook, 2003 edition.

See also