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. 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 high hills consisting of the Mahabharat
range and the Churia low hills, and the flat land of Terai range to
the south. Elevation are varied in the kingdom. The highest point is
Mt. Everest (8,848 m) in the north and the lowest point ( 70 meters
above sea level) is located in the south east Terai region 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.
The Himalaya
The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country and
represents 16% of the total land area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt. Everest
(8,848 m),Kanchnjunga (8598 m), and Dhaulagiri ( 8137 m) are found here
and sparse vegetation is found up to 4,500m. some of Nepal's most beautiful
animal and plant life are also found here. Although rare, the snow leopard
and danphe pheasant (national bird of Nepal also know as Impeyan Pheasant)
are much talked about sights among the 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.
The Hills
This region covers 65% of the total land area of the country, Kathmandu,
the capital of Nepal is located here. Elevation range from 500 to 3000m
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 dependent upon the melted snow that
flow down from 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
four hundred 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.
Terai
The Terai covers 17% of the total land area of Nepal. It provides excellent
farming land and the average elevation of flatlands is 100 to 300 meter
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 hill 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 haven given rise to many industries. The main Industrial
towns are Biratnagar, Butwal, Bhairawa, Birgunj and Janakpur. Calcutta,
a metropolitan city in India is the closest sea-port. It lies 1.000
kilometers away from Birgunj in mid south.