Location: | Southern Asia, between China and India |
| Geographic coordinates: | 28 00 N, 84 00 E |
| Map references: | Asia |
| Area: | total: 140,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km
land: 136,800 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: | 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) |
| Natural resources: | quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore |
| Land use: | arable land: 21.68%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 77.68% (2001) |
| 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, 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 - the world's tallest - on the border with China
Source: CIA World Factbook
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