| 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 |
| 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: 3.09%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.48% (2001) |
| Irrigated Land : |
400 sq km (1998 est.) |
| 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, 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. |
