Geography of Nepal

Geography of Nepal

The Nepal is a landlocked country sovereign state located in south Asia. With the area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq in mile) and a population of approximately 28 million (and nearly 2.5 million workers living abroad), Nepal is the world’s 93^rd largest country by land mass and the 41^st most populous country. The geographical coordinates are 28⁰00’N84⁰00’N. Nepal’s ecological zones run east to west about 800 km along its Himalayan axis, 150 to 250 km north to south, and are vertically intersected by the river systems. The country can be divided into three main geographical regions: Himalayan region, mid hill region and Terai region.

The highest point in the country is Mt. Everest (8,848 m) while the lowest point is in the Terai plains of kechana kalan in Jhapa (60 m).

Geographical map of Nepal

Terai region, with width of ranging 26 to 32 km and 60 to 305 m, occupies 17% of total land area of the country. Kechana kanal, the lowest point of the country with an altitude of 60 m, lies in eastern Jhapa district of eastern Terai. The Terai region is also called as madhesh region begins at the Indian boarder and includes the southernmost part of the flat, intensively farmed genetic plain called the Outer Terai. The Terai region ends at the first range of foothills then the Hilly region starts.

Situated north of the Terai Region, the Hill Region (called Pahar in Nepali) is mostly between 1,000 and 4,000 meters in altitude. It includes Kathmandu valley(capital city of Nepal) .The two major ranges of hills, commonly known as the Mahabharat  lekh and siwalik range (or churia range), occupy the region. Although the higher elevations (above 2,500 meters) in the region were sparsely populated because of physiographic and climatic difficulties, the lower hills and valleys were densely settled. The hill landscape was both a natural and cultural mosaic, shaped by geological forces and human activity. The hills, sculpted by human hands into a massive complex of terraces, were extensively cultivated.

The mountain region rises into the zone of perpetual snow among the main central thrust fault zone. The mountain is called as pravat in Nepali language. South of this fault system, “hills” do not greatly exceed treeline at about 3,500 meters. North of the Himalayas rise as a virtual wall beyond the snowline at 5,000 to 5,500 meters to some peak over 7,000 meters and eight exceeding 8,000 meters including Mount Everest (world’s highest mountain) at 8,848 m and Kanchenjunga at 8,598 m.