Geography of Nepal

Asiatic nation of Nepal is located on the Himalayan Mountain ranges' southern flanks. It is a landlocked nation bordered by China's Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and India to the east, south, and west. From east to west, its area spans about 500 miles (800 km), while from north to south, it stretches between 90 and 150 miles. Kathmandu serves as its capital. Being sandwiched between the two superpowers India and China, Nepal aims to maintain independence by balancing the two nations in its foreign policy.

One of the least developed countries in the world is Nepal. India, China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Canada, and Switzerland are just a few of the nations that have helped Nepal economically in recent years. The strategic location of Nepal between India and China has had a significant impact on the amount of foreign aid to the nation.

Physical Features

Nepal is roughly 150 to 250 kilometers (93 to 155 mi) broad and 880 to 547 kilometers (547 to 547 mi) along its Himalayan axis. It covers 147,516 km2 (56,956 sq. mi) in total area. Some of the world's roughest and most challenging mountain terrain may be found in Nepal. Mountains encircle the majority of the nation, or about 75%. Four major physical belts, each extending from east to west across the nation of Nepal, can be distinguished from south to north.

The first is the Tarai, a low, fertile region close to the Indian border; the second is the Inner Tarai zone and the forested Churia foothills; the third is the mid-mountain area between the Mahbhrat Range and the Great Himalayas; and the fourth is the Great Himalaya Range, which rises to a height of more than 29,000 feet (around 8,850 meters) from the Tarai plain.

Some of the world's roughest and most challenging mountain terrain may be found in Nepal. Mountains encircle the majority of the nation, or about 75%. Four major physical belts, each extending from east to west across the nation of Nepal, can be distinguished from south to north. The first is the Tarai, a low, fertile region close to the Indian border; the second is the Inner Tarai zone and the forested Churia foothills; the third is the mid-mountain area between the Mahabharata Range and the Great Himalayas; and the fourth is the Great Himalaya Range, which rises to a height of more than 29,000 feet (around 8,850 meters) from the Tarai plain.

The Tarai ranges in width from less than 16 to more than 20 miles, narrowing significantly in numerous locations, and serves as the Gangetic Plain's northern extension. The southern portion of the Tarai is a 10-mile-wide band of productive agricultural land; the northern portion, next to the foothills, is a swampy area where wild animals are abundant and malaria is endemic.

Climate

The climate of Nepal varies from subtropical monsoon conditions in the Tarai to high altitude subtropical monsoon conditions. The eastern Tarai region and the mountains receive a lot of rain, whereas the western part of Nepal is dryer. The lowest and highest temperatures ever recorded in the Kathmandu Valley were 27° and 99° F (-3° and 37° C), respectively. Average temperatures range from 50° F (10° C) in January to 78° F (26° C) in July. About 55 inches of rain fall on average each year, with the majority occurring between June and September.

The temperature of Pokhar fluctuates between 40° F (4° C) in January to roughly 100° F (38° C) in June, right before the monsoon. Winter weather is nice with cold evenings and warm days thanks to daytime highs of 70° F (21° C). The Pokhar Valley receives quite a bit of rainfall (approximately 100 inches), which is caused by warm monsoon winds dissipating the majority of their moisture when they come into contact with the Annapurna range.

Flora

The climate and altitude patterns are followed by Nepal's native plants. The Tarai and the Churia Range include a tropical, damp zone of deciduous flora. Khair, a spring tree with yellow flowers and flat pods, an East Indian timber tree with foliage providing food for lac insects, and sal, an East Indian timber tree with foliage providing food for lac insects (which deposit lac, a resinous substance used for making shellac and varnishes, on the tree's twigs), make up the majority of the trees in these forests.

The Mahbhrat Range's vegetation is made up of a variety of species, with pines, oaks, rhododendrons, poplars, walnuts, and larch being the most prevalent. All of the forest has been cleared in Nepal's mid-mountain region, with the exception of the most difficult-to-reach places, which are confined to locations with steep slopes and rocky terrain. Similar to this, overcutting and depletive methods have completely destroyed all easily accessible portions of the Tarai's important sal forest.

Some of the most valuable forests in Nepal may be found in the huge tract of forest that is below the timber line in the Great Himalaya Range. These forests are made up of spruce, fir, cypress, juniper, and birch. The Great Himalaya Range's higher elevations are covered in alpine flora. In the summer, green vegetation provides good grazing habitat just below the snow level.

Fauna

Due to the removal of woods, there aren't many wild creatures in the central zone. The forests, ravines, and woods are home to occasional leopards, bears, and lesser animals, as well as muntjacs, a tiny deer species commonly known as barking deer. The tahr (a Himalayan beardless wild goat), the goral (any of many goat antelopes, closely related to the Rocky Mountain goat), the musk deer (widely sought for the musk pods they carry), and wild sheep (preyed upon by wolves and snow leopards) are all found in the Alpine zone. Pheasants are typical.

The Sherpa claim that the Yeti (also known as the bear-man or Abominable Snowman) lives in the high snow mountains, but numerous expeditions have failed to find them. Although strange tracks are frequently discovered in the snow, bears are thought to be the most likely culprits. Mahseer is a sizable freshwater game and food fish found in rivers.

Tigers and leopards, gaurs (wild ox), occasionally seen elephants and buffalo, as well as numerous deer, including chital or axis deer with white spots on their bodies, sambar (a large Asiatic deer with coarse hair on the throat and strong antlers), and swamp deer, live in the Tarai's forested areas. One of the last remaining habitats for the giant Indian rhinoceros is the Lesser Rpti Valley in south-central Nepal.

Drainage

The Bāghmati River, which flows south and drains the Kathmandu Valley—the country's political and cultural center—washes the steps of the revered Pashupatinath Temple before rushing out of the valley through the dramatically eroded Chhobar Gorge. There are springs in the Kathmandu Valley where the sands outcrop because some sand layers of the lacustrine beds serve as aquifers (water-bearing strata of permeable rock, sand, or gravel).

The spring water frequently spews from the Nepalese-made dragon-shaped stone mouths; it is then collected in tanks for drinking and bathing, as well as for planting paddy nurseries in May before the monsoon. The Pokhar Valley, 96 miles west of Kathmandu, is another flat lacustrine basin that is drained by the Seti River. The largest of the few remaining lakes in the Pokhar basin is Phewa Lake, which is almost a mile long and two miles wide. The Annapurna massif of the Great Himalaya Range is located north of the basin.

The three main rivers of Nepal—the Kosi, Naryani (Gandak), and Karnali—form transverse valleys with steep gorges that are typically several thousand feet deep from the crest of the neighboring hills. These rivers run southward across the strike of the Himalayan peaks. The catchment for these rivers is to the north, typically in Tibet, rather than along the line of the highest peaks in the Himalayas.

Conclusion

The geographic characteristics of Nepal are determined by its location in the Himalayan Mountain ranges and by its advantageous position between India and China. It is a landlocked nation that is surrounded by India to the east, south, and west and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north. The Great Himalaya Range, the Tarai plains, and the forested foothills all make to the region's varied landscape.

The subtropical to high altitude climate variations in Nepal have an effect on agriculture and daily living. The country's plants and animals have adapted to its varied temperature and altitude. Despite difficulties, Nepal has received aid from other nations because of its strategic location between China and India.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which countries border Nepal?

Nepal is bordered by China's Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and India to the east, south, and west.

What is Nepal's capital?

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal.

What are the major physical regions of Nepal?

Nepal can be divided into four major regions: the Tarai plains, Inner Tarai and Churia foothills, mid-mountain area, and the Great Himalaya Range.

How is Nepal's climate?

Nepal's climate ranges from subtropical in the Tarai to high altitude conditions in the Himalayas.

What is unique about Nepal's flora and fauna?

Nepal's native plants and animals are adapted to its diverse altitude and climate zones. The country is home to various species, including the Royal Bengal tiger, deer, and pheasants.

What are Nepal's major rivers?

Nepal's major rivers include the Kosi, Narayani (Gandak), and Karnali.