Geographical Locations and Biodiversity

Gegraphical Regions and Biodiversity

The only planet in the cosmos with life is Earth. More than five billion years have passed since the earth's beginning. Geologists estimate that between Angara Land and Gondwanaland, at the start of the Tertiary Period, some 70 million years ago, there formerly existed the Geosynclinal Sea. Its name was Tethys Sea. Tectonic force moved from the north to the south at the middle of the Tetriary era. When this force was stopped, the bigger Himalayas were created when the seafloor's formed rocks rose up. Similar factors also gave rise to the Chure Range, the Terai Plain, and the birth of the Mahabharat.

The term geography (Bhugol in Nepali) was derived from 'Bhu' means earth and 'Gol' means study. Today it is defined as the study of the topography, terrain, and atmosphere of the earth, soil, minerals, human activities, etc. At the broadest level, geography is divided into physical geography and human geography. Human geography is concerned with the financial aspects, political aspects, historical aspects, social aspects, administrative division, population, agriculture, cultural aspects, etc. while physical geography includes the land topography science, environment science, and biological science. A human geographer may also look at the local, regional, and international effects of emerging economic powers.

Geographical Location of Nepal

The constitution of Nepal, dated 2072 B.S., states that the country is a federal democratic republican state that is independent, indivisible, sovereign, secular, inclusive, democratic, and socialism-oriented. Regarding economic development, Nepal is a developing nation. Physically, Nepal is divided into the Terai Region, the Hilly Region, and the Mountain Region. Nepal can be divided into the Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali regions based on its river system. Similar to this, Nepal is divided administratively into 77 districts and 7 autonomous provinces.

Nepal on the World Map

Nepal is a small landlocked country located in northern hemisphere in South Asia on the lap of Himalayas bordering with China in the north and India in the south, east and west. It is located at the distance of 1127 km far from the sea. Kathmandu is the capital city of the country. The country occupies 147,181 sq. km of land and shares 0.03% land in the earth, 0.3% in Asia and 3% in South Asia. In terms of area Nepal ranks as the 93rd largest country whereas, she occupies 47th position in terms of her population size. The entire distance from east to west is 885 km while from north to south is only 145 to 241 km. the average breath of Nepal is 193 km. Nepal is located between 80º 4'- 80° 12' east longitude and 260 22'- 30° 4' north latitude.

The Authentic Time of Nepal

Gaurishankar Himal, which is in the Dolakha District and has a longitude of 86°15, served as the basis for the local time calculation "Since the first Baishakh in 2042, E has been used as the nation's standard time. So, 86°15 "The time for the entire nation of Nepal is calculated using the standard meridian of Nepal, or E. The time in Nepal is 5 hours and 45 minutes earlier than GMT.

Unique Characteristics of Nepal

The lowest point in Nepal is in the Terai plains at Kechana Kalan in Jhapa, which is 58 meters above sea level, whereas Mt. Everest (8,848 meters), the highest point in the planet, is also in Nepal. Nepal is home to 8 of the world's 14 high mountain peaks exceeding 8000 meters. Above 6000 meters, there are more than 1,300 mountains. Within the boundaries of Mustang, there are roughly 301 peaks. We can confirm that Nepal is an extreme region both in terms of altitude and depth thanks to the existence of the world's deepest gorge, the 6,967-meter-deep Kali Gandaki Canyon [Dana Gorge] in the Myagdi District. The deepest valley of the world, Arun Valley (457 m), the waterfall in highest altitude, Suligaad Fall (3,613 m), The tallest place (4,919 m) Tilicho Lake in the world. Besides, Nepal has been endowed with large rivers like Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali, lakes like Rara, Phewa, Gosaikunda, etc. Along with geophysical variations, Nepal has variations in climate which is the result of geographical variation. Nepal experiences tropical, meso-thermal (sub-tropical), micro thermal (temperate), taiga and tundra climate.

Nepal has tremendous geographic diversity .The physical variation of Nepal is caused due to its altitudinal variation. Nepal is recognized as the country of Sagarmatha, birth place of Gautam Buddha, country with third pole, maternal house of Sita and Bhrikuti, country with living Goddess (Kumari), country of brave Gurkhas, buffer state, unique flag, etc. in the world.

Other Geographical Features of Nepal

• Mechi, Koshi, Sagarmatha, Janakpur, Seti, and Mahakali are the six Nepalese regions that share borders with both Nepal and China. Bagmati, Gandaki, Dhaulagiri, and Karnali are the four regions that share borders with India, while Narayani, Lumbini, Rapti, and Bheri are the four regions that share borders with Nepal but not India.
• Nepal shares borders with both India and China in the two districts of Taplejung and Darchula. Thirteen districts have a border with China, compared to twenty-five with India, and thirty-seven with neither country.
• Karnali Province, one of Nepal's seven provinces, shares only land borders with China, while provinces 2 and 5 share land borders with both China and India.
• 3 districts of Nepal namely Bhaktapur, Nuwakot and Lamjung don't even touch the border of zones.

Nepal's Neighbouring Country

Bihar and Uttarpradesh are to Nepal's south, Uttarakhanda is to its west, while Sikkim and west Bengal are to its east. From Lipudhara Mountain to the Jonsong Himal, Nepal shares a northern border with Tibet, an autonomous territory of China. Compared to Nepal, the neighboring countries have much larger territories. China is 65 times larger than Nepal, while India is 22 times larger. Bangladesh is the nation that Nepal is closest to, after India and China, at a distance of 27 km, while Bhutan is 32 km away. Lasha, Tibet is located 840 km away from Nepal. Nepal has the total 2,926 km international boundary in which 1236 km with China and 1690 with India.

Socio-economic Condition and Population Status of Nepal

Nepal is well known as a multi- religious, multi-cultural, multi- lingual, multi-ethnic country since long before. It is the unique quality and characteristics of Nepal and the matter of pride to all of us.

• Population: The size of population of Nepal according to the latest population census, 2068 BS (2011 AD) is 2,64,94,504. Among them 1,28,49,041 and 1,36,45,463 members of people are male and female respectively. The annual population growth is 1.35 per annum. (Source: CBS 2068) Kathmandu alone has about 25 lakhs population. Terai constitutes 50.23% (1,33,18,705) population while Hilly Region and Himalayan Region constitute 43.10% (1,13,94,007) and 6.73% (17,81,792) population respectively. Among the total population 83% people live in village whereas, 17% people are the city dwellers.
• Ethnicity: There are 125 caste/ethnic groups reported in the census 2011. Chhetri is the largest caste/ethnic groups having 16.6% (4,398,053) of the total population followed by Brahmin-Hill (12.2%) 3,226,903), Magar 7.1% (1,887.733), Tharu 6.6% (1,737,470), Tamang 5.8% (1,539,830) Newar 5.01% (1,321,933), Kami 4.81% (1,258,554), Muslim 4.41% (1,164,255), Yadav, 1,054,458 (4.01%), Rai 2.3% (620004).
• Religious Diversity: Though majority of people in Nepal are Hindus, there is religious tolerance among various religious groups of Nepal. According to the census 2011, there are ten types of religions followed in Nepal. Hinduism is followed by 81.3% of the population, Buddhism 9%, Islam 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, Prakriti 0.5% and other few believe on other religions. Other religions include Bon (13006 persons), Jain (3214 persons), Bahai (1286 persons) and Sikh (609 persons).
• Language: According to the latest census, 123 languages are spoken in Nepal. The languages used in Nepal include Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Magar 3%, Bajjika 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, other 10.4%, and unspecified at 0.2%.
• Economy System: Nepal is an agricultural country where majority of people are involved in agriculture. Agriculture remains Nepal's principal economic activity, employing about 66% of the population and contributing 32.12% of Gross Domestic Product. Service sector supports to the GDP at the maximum level i.e. 53.2%. The total GDP of Nepal in the year 2015 was 21.24 Billion Nepali rupee according to the economic survey of fiscal year 2071/72. Tourism provides only 4.3% to the GDP of Nepal.

Geographical Division of Nepal

Nepal is known across the globe as the home of the tallest mountain peak, the deepest gorge, and the second-richest country in terms of water resources while having a relatively small area. Nepal is distinguished by its mountain peaks, rivers, and rivulets, topographical variance, climatic variation, variation in flora and fauna, variation in soil and minerals, valleys, the Terai plain, special characteristics of natural places, etc. Nepal may be classified into three main natural zones based on its geography.

Geographical Divisions of Nepal on the Basis of Land Structure The topographical division of Nepal is made in different ways. Topographically, Nepal can be divided into three major regions. Their major characteristics are presented in the table below:

                                                                                                                                                                  Geographical Divisions of Nepal on the Basis of Land Structure

Himalayan Region

From 3300 meters to 8848 meters in height, the hilly zone is to the north of the mountainous region. 15% of the country is made up of mountainous regions, where a number of mountain ranges running from east to west are nearly always covered in snow. This area is 25 to 50 kilometers wide. In addition to mountains, the Himalayas are surrounded by some plains to the north, from which they may be viewed to the south. To the north of Annapurna and Gangapurna is the inner Himalayan valley, which includes Manang and Mustang. To the north of Dhaulagiri and Churen lie the regions of Dolpo and Mustang. From those valleys, one can view the mountains to the south. The beautiful and high mountain peaks of the world are located in the Himalayas of Nepal. Kanchanjungha, Janak, Umbak, Mahalangur, Rolwaling, Pumari, Jugal, Langtang, Ganesh, Serang Kutang, Mansiri, Pero, Lugula, Damodar, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Mustang, Gautam, Palchung Hamaga, Kanjirowa, Kanti, Gorakh, Changla, Chandi, Nlakankar, Gurash are the 28 major mountains extending from east to the west respectively. Most of these mountains are located in the bordering place of Tibet.

Major Characteristics of Mountain Region:

• Districts of Himalayan Region: The 21 districts located in Himalayan Region of Nepal are Taplejung Sankhuwasabha, Dolokha, Rasuwa, Sindupalchowk, Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, Dolpa, Mugu, Humla, Jumla, Kalikot, Bajura, Darchula, Bajhang, Dhading, Ramechhap, Gorkha, Rukum East.

• Economy System: There are limited economic activities in Himalayan region. Due to extreme cold climate most of the living areas are not favourable for crop production. People engage mostly in livestock farming like rearing Yak, sheep, Himalayan goat, horse, etc. It is also popular for medicinal herbs. We could find some cottage and handicraft industries too related to making blankets, carpets, sweaters and other garments. Being a mountainous area, it is one of the best destinations of tourist, ecological resources and medicinal herbs. Production of potato and varied fruits is suitable in this region. Chungkung village located at the height of 4400 m in Solukhumbu produces good amount of potatoes. 50% of the land of mountain region is not good for any crops and out of remaining 50% of the land, 34% land lacks enough suitable soil for production whereas, the remaining 16% is the area where agriculture is carried out. The land suitable is about 2,00,000 hector and only 40% of its land is used well for production. Some of the high altitude agricultural lands are found in Solukhumbu, Manang, Mustang and Dolpa. About 12% of the land is an ideal place for cattle farming due to grassland. Due to its rugged form, other area is not suitable for grazing. The major requirement of this region is to control random grazing because vegetation takes long time to regenerate due to unfavourable climate. The arrangement of transport facility could give many advantages to this region because the products could have access to the market and it also supports for the flow of tourists to this region.

• Climate: This region experiences Alpine and Arctic chumatic features Height and presence of mountain affects the climate of this region Mustang located at the altitude of 2000 m receives 200m rainfall de its location in leeward region.

• Vegetation: Above the altitude of 5000 m the land is covered with snow from 6 months to all year round Also at the altitude of 4000m the region is affected due to beavy snowfall. So, only some bushes and shrubs are found at the altitude of 4000-5000m. There is diversity in the topography and climate of this region. As a result, this region is the habitat of various types of vegetation, crop, animal, hird and other creatures. People grow various types of crops such as harley, buckwheat, maize wheat, tws, etc. besides green vegetables like potato, radish, and various fruits like apple, walnut, pears, etc. The trees found in thas region are oaks maples, pines, birches, rhododendron and blue pines. The medicinal herbs Yarsyagumba, Panchaule. Jatamashi, etc are found in this region.

• Ethnicity: Bibute, Sherpa, Thakali, Rat, Limbu, Mugal Dolpa, Sherpas. Manangis, and Lopas, Baragaon Tingalis, Lhomo, Yakhha, Thudham, Chhaurotan, etc are the major settlers here. Along with them w could find the settlement of Brahmin and Chhetri but majority of people here are the followers of Buddhism and the influence of Tibetan culture is high here.

• Lifestyle: The physical and ecological aspect has highly influenced the life of people. Their lifestyle is more influenced by Tibetan culture. The houses are made up of mud stone and wood. The roofs are flat and thatched with mud; doors and windows are small. They keep their cattle downstairs. They wear thick woolen clothes like Bakkhu and Docha.

The Three Sub Divisions of Himalayan Region

• The Main Himalayas:The main Himalayas, the highest zone, is made up of long ridges of 8000 m+ snow-capped peaks. One of the last uninhabited and remote areas is this area. There are approximately 1,111 mountain peaks taller than 6000 meters in its transitional region. Along with the world's highest mountain peak. Mt. Everest and the third highest peak, Mt Kanchanjungha, there are at highest mountain peaks of the world out of top 10 highest mountain peaks. The mountain peaks like Kanchanjungha, Janak, Umbak, Mahalangur, Rolwaling, Punsari, Jugal, Laangtang Ganesh, Kutaing, Pert Lagula, Damodar, Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Mustang Gautam, Palchung Hamaga, Kanjirowa, Kanti, Gorakh Changla Chandi, Nalakankar, Gurash, etc are the 28 mountain peaks extending from east to west. Inner Himalaya: it lies to the north of main Himalayas and south of Tibet. There are many river basins and valleys in this region. Some valleys like Humla, Mugu, Langhu, Buds Khotang, Kerung Nyanma, Purang Rongsagar, Khumbhu, karma, etc are located here where heavy snowfall occurs. These valleys are at the altitude of 2400-5000 m where there are tall mountain peaks to the north and marginal Himalayas to the south.The region of Hurela, Jumla, Mugu, Dolpa, and Manang Mustang receives extremely little rainfall as a result of being on a leeward slope. The climate in this area is arid and chilly. Coniferous vegetation can be found here, making it unsuitable as animal food. Male, horses, yaks, Himalayan goats, and other animals are used by people as means of transportation. Potato, wheat, and buckwheat can all grow up to 3000 meters above sea level. The settlement is extremely sparse due to the bitterly cold winters.

• Inner Himalayas: It is south of Tibet and north of the major Himalayas. In this area, there are several valleys and river basins. Here, where there is a lot of snowfall, are valleys like Humla, Mugu, Langhu, Buds Khotang, Kerung Nyanma, Purang Rongsagar, Khumbhu, Karma, etc. At an elevation of 2400–5000 meters, these valleys are surrounded by lofty mountain peaks to the north and the distant Himalayas to the south. The region of Hurela, Jumla, Mugu, Dolpa, and Manang Mustang receives extremely little rainfall as a result of being on a leeward slope. The climate in this area is arid and chilly. Coniferous vegetation can be found here, making it unsuitable as animal food. Male, horses, yaks, Himalayan goats, and other animals are used by people as methods of transportation. Wheat, buckwheat and potato grows up to the altitude of 3000 m. Due to extreme cold during winter, the settlement is very sparse here.

• Marginal Himalayas:In the southern region of China's Tibet Autonomous Region are the marginal Himalayas, an extension eastward of the Himalayas' most northerly ranges: It is made up of a vaguely defined mountainous region that is around 600 miles (1,000 km) long, 140 miles (225 km) broad in the middle, and 20 miles (32 km) wide at the eastern and western ends. The Tibetan plateau, which drains the major river systems, contains an area that stretches from 6000 meters to 7000 meters above sea level. According to legend, the Kaligandaki drains that cross the high Himalayas are older than the Himalayas. The towns of Manang and Mustang, as well as the entrances to hot valleys, are situated in a leeward direction; as a result, they are cold deserts that remain dry all year long.

                                                                                                                                     Major Mountain Peaks of Nepal and Their Height

Hilly Region:

Between the Teral in the south and the mountains in the north is a hilly terrain that stretches from east to west. There are many hills, bensi, tars, fertile valleys, uneven landforms, etc. in this area. This area's elevation ranges from 600 m to 3300 m, and its width varies from 76 km to 125 km. This area encompasses the majority of the nation. Nepal is therefore a country with mountains.

Major Characteristics of Hilly Region:

• Districts of Hilly Region: This region contains 28 districts namely: Illam, Panchthar, Therathum, Dhankuta. Bhojpur, khotang, Okhaldhunga, Kavrepalanchowk, Nuwakot, Tanahau, Lamjung, Kaski. Syangja, Parbat, Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakanchi, Baglung, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Rukum (West), Salyan, jajarkot Dailekh, Accham, Doti, Dadeldhura and Baitadi.
• Economy System: Mainly hilly region is suitable for horticulture and crop farming. The crops like maize, paddy, wheat, cereals and bins are produced here but due to lack of enough fertile soil, there is the scarcity of food. The climate is suitable for fruit cultivation and production of medicinal herbs. The southern slopes of hills are found densely populated and people cultivate varied crops there. This region is popular for tea and coffee. Besides agriculture people are also involved in civil service, tourism, business and commerce, foreign employment. Vegetation: This region mainly contains deciduous forest and coniferous forest is found in the higher region.
• Climate: This region experiences warm temperate to cool temperate climate. Heavy rainfall takes place during summer which causes the problem of flood and landslide whereas it is dry and cold during winter. Neither it's not too cold during summer nor too hot during summer. This region is best for human settlement.
• Ethnicity: People of different castes live in this region. They belong to various castes like Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar, Kirant. (Rai and Limbu) Tamang, Magar, Gurung, etc. This region has the majority of Hinduism but there is religious tolerance among the religions.
• Lifestyle: Hilly region is unique due to its diversities. The houses, costumes, food habit, occupation, etc are according to the suitability of this region. Diverse lifestyle is found here and this place has religious and cultural tolerance.

The Three Sub Divisions of Hilly Region

Churia/ Siwalik Range: The Churia range, also known as Siwalik, rises abruptly from the Terai plains, stretches parallel to the Mahabharat Range from east to west, and was developed after the Himalayas. Its elevation ranges from 610 meters to 1872 meters. The Churia is a young region made up of loose, unconsolidated materials that were originally formed by soft rocks like mudstone, sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Shallow and coarse textured soils are formed primarily on sedimentary rocks. From west to west, this range has different altitudes. While the height continues to drop to the east, the western portion is higher. It is a distinct range that stretches from Mahakali in the west to Mechi in the east. The hills like Mainichuli and Chulachuli are to the north of Morang and Jhapa. Churia has a large portion of its land covered in forest. Churia created the interior valleys such as Dang, Deukhuri, Rapti, Chitwan, etc. The climate in this area is rather warm. It covers 1,87,900 Hector, or about 12.7%, of the entire area. A special ecological region called the bhabar (footslope) replenishes water for flat lands.Severe surface erosion is more likely on steep slopes and where distinct strata are only weakly consolidated. Flooding is a common problem in this area during the wet season. According to environmental viewpoint, this area is considered to be vulnerable. Surface rocks guard the soil's loose texture. Due of its texture, this area is delicate. Because of the steepness and difficulty of about 93% of the land, agriculture is impossible. 24% (5,29,600 hector) of the land in the Siwalik region is arable. Although the climate in the Dun Valleys is warm, the soil is different from that in the Terai region. Producing fruits and vegetables in this area is extremely difficult. As a result of increased human pressure, the region's delicate landscape is deteriorating at an alarming rate. As a result, these have quickened the rate of erosion, flooding, riverbank cutting, and other natural environment losses. South of the Siwalik region, a long belt of sandy, loose soil with pebbles runs from east to west. The Sal forest is found here. Valleys are created in the deep gorges by the deposition of soil that rivers have eroded. 5,29,600 hectors) of the land is arable. Despite the warm climate, the soil in the Dun Valleys is distinct from that of the Terai region.

Mahabharat Range: The Mahabharat range, which runs from east to west and has an elevation of 12000 feet, makes up the majority of the hilly region. Sandstone, limestone, marble, slate, and other types of rocks are used to create this. The gap in this hard granite is caused by the huge four rivers draining. River Karnali at Chisapani. Devghat's Kaligandaki. Rifts have emerged between Tishull in Jugari and Koshi in Chatara. In this area, there are several valleys as well as tars like Palungtar, Salyantar, and Rumjatar. The lower Himalayas is another name for this range. This area is also known as Hill-Station because of the appropriate and attractive setting. Sailung are the main hills in this area. Tyamke, Jaithak, Phulchoki, Shivapuri, Chhimkeshwori, Daman, Swargdwari, Sakine Hill, Khoche, etc. are examples of such places. Compared to the east, the west has steeper land.

Mid Hill: This area comprises the vast, lush valleys created by the Chamelia River (Sudurpashchim). Sunkoshi, Tamor, Arun, and Trishuli (Mid). There are a few tars, including Tumlimgtar (Sankhuwasabha), Rumjatar (Okhaldhunga), Mangaltar (Kavrepalanchowk), Khumaltar (Lalitpur), Battar (Nuwakot), and Salyantar (Dhading). These places include Khairenetar (Tanahun), Chaurijharitar (Rukum), etc. 29.5% of this subregion is land (4,350,300 hector). This area's climate is favorable for agriculture all year long. The climate in this area is generally mild. The strain on the population is tremendous due to the fast population expansion. Here, slopes are used for terrace farming, and 87% of the land is arable. The main economic sectors in this area are agriculture and forestry. Precambrian, Phyllite, and Quartzite rocks. There are stones here like granite. There are hills that resemble the Mahabharat range to the south of this region. In contrast to Siwalik, this region does not experience soil erosion. Agriculture is not appropriate in areas with hard rocks and steep slopes (more than 35°), even if there is a thin layer of soil. Numerous castes, including Rai, Limbhu, Tamang, Magar, Gurung, Brahmin, Chhetri, and Newar, among others, live in this area. The southern slopes of hills are where you'll find the populated areas and agricultural land.Some major such areas are illam, Dhankuta, Chainpur, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Charikot, Banepa, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Jumla, Salyan, Silgadi, etc. Among the total settlements, 16.37% settlers are in the altitude below 1000m, 59.09% people are in the altitude ranging from 1001 m to 2000m and 19.99% people are living above this altitude till 3000m. Maximum settlements are at the altitude from 1001- 2000m.

Mid-hill refers to the wide and productive valleys, tars, and foothills situated between the Mahabharat Range and the Himalayas. This area includes the valleys of Kathmandu, Pokhara, Trishuli, Panchkhal, Madi, etc. This area is home to the plain and fertile Tars, such as Tumlimgtar, Rumjatar, Mangaltar, Khumaltar, Battar, Salyantar, Khairenetar, Chaurijharitar, Shuketar, Chepetar, Beltar, and Karaputar, among others.

Kathmandu Valley

Three districts namely Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur are included in Kathmandu Valley.

                                                                                                                                                                      Table no.1.3

                                                                                                                                                 Major Valleys Located in Hilly Region

Terai Region

The Terai Region of Nepal starts in the mountainous area and extends all the way to the Indian border, covering the flat/plain southernmost Tarea of Nepal. This area is also referred to as Madesh. It is between 25 and 30 kilometers wide. The highest point of Terai lies between Churia and Bhabar, and it is slowly sloping southward. The climate is hot and humid, and the terrain is plain. Since the beginning, the Terai area has been inhabited by Tharu people. They possessed immunity against malaria. Following the start of the Malaria Eradication Program, a large number of people from the Hilly region began to migrate and settle in the Terai region. This region is inhabited by many castes and communities due to heavy migration from hills and mountains. Its altitude ranges from 60 to 600 m from the sea level. The fertile and arable soil of the Terai Region has given its identity as 'granary (breadbasket) of Nepal' yielding high amount of food crops.

Major Characteristics of Terai Region

• Districts of Terai Region: Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rauthat, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi (West of Bardaghat Susta), Rupendhei, Kapilbastu, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur are the 18 districts located in this region.
• Economy System: Due to availability of fertile soil, plain land structure, enough water and suitable climatic condition, this region is the major agricultural land in Nepal. Terai is usually known as the grain house/store house of Nepal since most the crops that are sold throughout Nepal is produced here Terai region due to its high productivity. This region supports for the huge production of cash and food crops. Due to suitable land structure, industry, factories, trade and commerce is well prospered here.
• Vegetation: The region mainly supports the tropical and sub-tropical forest with hard stem, broad leaves, and evergreen tall trees. The Bhabar region mainly contains shrubs, bushes and willows which is popularly known as "Charkoshe Jhhadi".
• Climate: This region experiences hot climate with high temperature. Due to heavy rainfall, it is prone to flood and inundation. The western Terai is influenced by Loo (hot air that blows from Thar desert of India) during summer which makes the climate too hot and during winter it experiences too cold climate.
• Castes: This region is inhabited by Tharu, Yadhav, Meche, Koche, Gangai, Santhal, Kishan, Tajpuria, etc and in the inner Terai some castes like Kumal, Raute, Majhi, Raji, Darai, Bote, Danuwar are residing.
• Lifestyle: Due to plain land structure and bordered with India, since ancient time, people from India and Nepal move to each other's place through this area. Since the time when Malaria was eradicated the migration of people from Hills to Terai is very high. Due to extremely hot climate people were light clothes like Dhoti, Kurtha and vests.

Sub-divisions of Terai Region

Main Terai (Plain of Terai/Outer Terai): The Main Terai starts from the southern edge of the Siwalik Hills that gradually slopes to the south. It contains alluvial fertile soil which is formed by the deposition of made by Someshwor range of Chitwan and Dunduwa range located to the south of Deukhuri. It extends to mrs. Main Terai can also be divided into three parts (Eastern, Mid and Western) due to the division the border with India. Jhapa, Morang, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rauthat, Bara, south of Parsa, South west of Nawalparasi, South of Rupendhei and Kapilbastu, south of Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, and Kanchanpur ii. Bhabar Region: The gently-sloping coarse alluvial zone located to the north of main Terai and south of are the areas included in main Terai. Churia at the altitude

Inner Terai: Inner Terai refers to elongated valleys lying between the Churia Range and the Mahabharat the area of 4.5% land. of 380 m from sea level is called Bhabar region. It is of 8-10 miles wide and covers range. These valleys are known as Dun valleys and are at the altitude of up to 610 m from the sea level. Like for example Dehra Dun. It extends from 32 to 64 km length from east to west and 16 km width from north to south. It covers the 8.5% of the land area of Nepal. It is also divided into four sub-divisions Udhayapur and Sindhuli valleys are known as Eastern Inner Terai, Makwanpur, Chitwan and Nawalpar (east of Bardaghat Susta) are known as Mid Inner Terai, Dang and Deukhuri are known as Western he Terai and Surkhet valley is known as Mid- Western Inner Terai.

Districts of Himalayan Region, Hill, Inner Terai, Terai and Kathmandu Valley                                                                                                                           

Source: Local Governance Act, 2074 and some laws related to amendments of Nepal Law, 2075

Geographical Divisions of Nepal on the Basis of the Rivers

The Mahakali and Mechi rivers, respectively, divide Nepal's western and eastern borders. Rivers also divide the borders of provinces, zones, districts, municipalities, rural municipalities, and wards. Some of them have names that are also derived from rivers. Nepal may be classified into three groups based on its rivers.

Koshi Region

The Koshi region spans the area between Mount Kanchanjungha in the east and Mount Langtang (Gosaikunda) in the west. For its seven Himalayan tributaries in eastern Nepal, the Koshi is also known as the Sapta Koshi: Indrawati, Sun Koshi, Tama Koshi, Dudh Koshi, Liku, Arun, and Tamor. The biggest river in Nepal is the Saptakoshi. It is 720 kilometres long and moves 1564 cubic meters per second on average. It is capable of generate 22,000 MW of power, according to estimates. It drains across an area that is impacted by it that is around 60,000 km2. Likhu is the Saptakoshi River's smallest tributary, whereas Arun is the biggest.

Gandaki Region

The Gandaki Region includes the area between Mt. Langtang in the east and Dhaulagiri in the west that is drained by the Gandaki River. In the middle of the nation, the Gandaki has seven Himalayan tributaries: the Daraudi, Seti Gandaki, Madi, Kali, Marsyandi, Budhi Gandaki, and Trisuli, commonly known as the Sapta Gandaki. Gandaki, thought to have been named after the sage Gandab, becomes the Narayani River after it passes through Devghat in the Chitwan district. This river drains 38,000 km2 and originates in the country's center. This river is 338 km long and can generate 21,000 MW of electricity, according to estimates. Among its tributaries, Kaligandaki is the largest one whereas Daraudi is the smallest. It is the deepest river of the country and has the average volumetric flow of 1,713 cubic meter/sec.

Karnali Region

Western Nepal is drained by the Karnali, which has the Humla, Mugu, and Karnali rivers as its primary tributaries. The Karnali area spans from Dhaulagiri in the east to the Byas Himal in the west. Additionally, it is Nepal's longest river. The Karnali drains Nepal's mid- and far-western regions, and after it crosses the country's border, it is known as Goghra, Ghaghara, and in some places, Saryau. This river is 507 km long and capable of producing 32,000 MW of electricity, according to estimates. It has an average volumetric flow of 1,316 cubic meters/sec and drains an area of 42,000 km2.

Geographical Division of Nepal on the Basis of Climate

Climate is an area's or a region's long-term average of its atmospheric conditions. Climate is influenced by factors including temperature, air pressure, wind, and precipitation. Over a sizable area or region, the climate is largely consistent. Based on topography and altitude, there are five different types of climate in Nepal.

Classification of Climate of Nepal and their Characteristics

Sub Tropical Monsoon Climate

The Terai, Bhabar, Dun, and Churia regions experience this climatic trait up to 1200 m (4000 ft) height. When compared to 50 to 15° C during the winter, the summertime temperature varies from 38 to 42° C. Rainfall occurs throughout the summer when a breeze carrying rain from the Bay of Bengal blows. The western Terai is comparatively hotter than the eastern Terai because rainfall tends to decrease from east to west while increasing from north to south. Particularly hot climates are found in the western Terai regions of Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, and Kailali. In a similar vein, the inner Terai's Dang and Surkhet valleys are extremely hot.

Warm Temperate Climate

At a height of 1200–2100 m (4000–7000 ft), the Churia Range and Mahabharat Range experience this climate, which is hot during the summer and frigid during the winter. While it drops to 0°C during the winter, summer temperatures vary from 24 to 30 degrees Celsius. The wind that brings rain to Nepal comes from the south, so the south slopes (windward slopes) get about 250 cm of rain while the north slopes, which are facing the other way, only get about 100 cm.

Cool Temperate Climate

This climate is found in the Mahabharat Range, where temperatures range from 2100 to 3350 m (7000–11000 ft), with pleasant summers and bitterly cold winters. The temperature dips to 0°C during the winter while the summer temperature fluctuates from 150 to 20°C. Only 10 cm of rain fall in this area during the summer, while snowfall occurs in the winter. A very low level of agricultural production results from the low temperatures and rain. Although people lead challenging lives, the climate is beneficial to human health.

Alpine Climate

Alpine climate describes the chilly weather seen in the Himalayan area at altitudes between 3350 and 5000 m (11000 and 16000 ft) above sea level. While the remaining nine months are below freezing, the region only receives 10°C during the months of Chaitra, Baishakh, and Jestha. It rains roughly 30 mm here during the summer. Although this area cannot be farmed, its meadows and vast grasslands make it ideal for raising livestock. This region is a major draw for numerous tourists each year.

Tundra Climate

The Himalayan area has a tundra climate, which is cold and dry. This area has significant snowfall practically every day of the year. Precipitation takes the form of snowfall. Since temperatures below 0°C are common above 5000 meters (16000 feet), heavy snowstorms are common after noon almost every day. This environment is also referred to as a cold desert climate.

Factors Affecting Climate

There are various factors that determine the climate of the earth. The land structure, altitude, presence of mountain, slope of land, distance from the sea, forest, soil, local climatic situation, etc affect the climate of a place. Some of them are described below:

• Latitude or Distance from the Equator: The equator experiences no climate change. More heat is generated in areas that are on or near the equator than in those that are farther north or south of it. It implies that higher latitudes are further away and also have slanted sun beams. The temperature decreases when one moves more north or south, and vice versa. The distance of the sun decreases as we go closer to the poles in greater latitudes. The climate is chilly at the poles, mild in the mid-latitudes, and very hot in the arid zone.
• Distance from the Sea: Places close to the sea have pleasant, moderate weather because of the influence of the sea breeze, but the climate is extreme in the continental region where the sea breeze is absent. It results from the distinction between the heating patterns of water and land. As a result, a place's climate is influenced by its distance from the sea.
• Altitude and Slope of Land: Altitude has an impact on a location's climate as well because the temperature drops by 1°C for every 165 meters of elevation. Thus, higher altitudes have cool climates whereas lower altitudes have hot climates because lower altitudes have thicker atmospheres that retain more heat while higher altitudes have thinner atmospheres that absorb less heat. Similar to this, the slope of land that faces the sea or the ocean is wet, while the slope that faces land is dry.
• Nature of Wind: The climate of a place is directly influenced by some of the permanent airflow routes. The region where the wind originates from the sea or the ocean experiences the most rainfall, the region where the tropical/hot wind originates warms the climate, and the region where the polar wind originates cools it.
• Vegetation/Forest: Places with dense forest resources receive a lot of rain because of enough moisture. So, the climate in the area with vegetation is moderate, whereas places with sand and bare rocks rarely experience monsoon, the climate in such place is extreme hot and dry.
• Relief Features: Relief features refer to the land structure which has direct link with the climate of the  place. The places with desert has hot climate whereas the places in higher altitude have cool climate.
• Moisture: The places with moisture receive enough rainfall whereas the places without moisture remain dry.
• Presence of Mountains: Mountains block the wind that blows towards it. When air gets blocked it is forced to rise, it cools and water vapor condenses into water droplets and causes rainfall. So, Nepal receives rainfall during summer because the wind that blows from Bay of Bengal gets blocked by mountains and causes rainfall.

Weather

Weather changes very frequently. It is the description of the atmosphere conditions of particular place at a particular time from a short period of time.

Difference between Climate and Weather

Importance of Climate

Human life, animals, crops, topography, vegetation, traditions, etc are affected by climate.

• Human Activities: The practices and activities of people of any place are related to the climate of that place.
• Traditions and Culture: Traditions and culture develop according to the climate of a place.
• Agricultural Production: According to the climate agricultural production differs.
• Vegetation: The climate determines the type of vegetation of a place. 5. Topography: Topography affects the climate of a place and according to the climate the land structure is found just as deserts are found in desert climate region.
• Industry: According to the climate, industry and tourism activities are regulated in a place.