Geography Location

Subject: Nepalese Society and Politics

Overview

Three physical subregions make up Nepal: the Terai, a lush, low-lying marshy plain; the mountainous northern border region; and the central hilly region. The Terai, which receives irrigation from the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, provides food for more than 90% of Nepal's 27 million inhabitants. Only 17 percent of the population resides in cities, the greatest of which is the capital in Nepal's central Kathmandu Valley. Although Nepal's location along the Tibetan plateau can serve as a launching pad for greater Indian influence northward or an expansion of Chinese influence, denying New Delhi inroads into Tibet, the geography and unfavorable climate of the northern border prevent any large-scale military posturing by outside powers.

Nepal has long been referred to as "a yam stuck between two rocks" because of its location between the two enormous nations of India and China. Nepal is home to a vast mountainous and hilly territory that is dominated by the majestic Himalayas, often known as the "abode of snow" in Sanskrit. Nepal is roughly rectangular-shaped, measuring 147,181 square kilometers of land and being around 650 kilometers long and 200 kilometers wide. Its size is comparable to that of Bangladesh or the state of Arkansas. Nepal is also well-known for being a landlocked nation that is bordered by Tibet (in China's Xizang Autonomous Region) to the north and India on three sides. It is separated from Bangladesh by a about 15 km broad strip of the Indian state of West Bengal and from Bhutan by the 88 km wide Sikkim, another Indian state. It is difficult to be proud of one's location in such a specific area. Nepal is a country that depends on both China and India for transit services and access to the ocean, specifically the Bay of Bengal.

Nepal Geography, http://countrystudies.us/nepal/21.htm

Despite its small size, Nepal has a significant variety of landscapes, from the Terai Plain, which is located in the south at a height of around 300 meters above sea level, to the north's Mount Everest, which rises to an elevation of 8,800 meters. Landforms ascend from the low-lying Terai region to the successive hills and mountains, including the magnificent rampart of the towering Himalayan ranges, which reach the Tibetan Plateau beyond the Inner Himalayas. The valley between the two mountain ranges serves as a landmark for this height change. The variances in ecology are brought about by the altitude fluctuations inside this maze of mountains, hills, ridges, and low valleys. The Mountain Region, the Hill Region, and the Terai are the three main geographic divisions of Nepal.

  • The Terai
    An area of fertile alluvial plain measuring 26 to 32 kilometers broad covers the Terai region in the southern section of the nation. Approximately 17% of the local area is covered by this belt, which extends from the western to the eastern boundary.
    Terai, http://www. http://countrystudies.us/nepal/25.htm
    Low valleys known as Duns are located between the Churia Hills, which rise to the north of the southern plains, and the Mahabharata range. The Duns, also referred to as the inner Terai, aid Terai in relief and climate. The country's Churia range, which runs from east to west, features a hogback shape with a steep south face. The Terai is 8 to 16 kilometers wide and has an average elevation of 600 to 1220 meters. This region's soil is young and dry.

  • The Hills
    The Terai region and the Hill region are divided by the Mahabharata range, which runs parallel to and adjacent to the Churia mountains. This group of hills has a width of 16 kilometers and an average elevation range of 1,525 to 3,660 meters. Hills feature synclinal structures, steep slopes, and jagged edges. Forests can be found at higher elevations, whereas terraced farming is done on softer, lower slopes. The primary area of Nepalese settlement is located in the farmed hill complex or hill region, which is located north of the hills and south of the Himalaya and makes up roughly 64% of the total land area. Geographically, the climate is moderate and healthy in the Hill regionThe Hill, http://ipost24.blogspot.com/2013/06/geography-and-physical-features-of-nepal.html
    The areas in this region with the most densely populated valleys are those that lie beneath the valley of Kathmandu.
  • The Himalaya
    The highest and youngest mountain range on Earth is called the "Snow Himalaya." The terminal high peaks of the Himalaya are Namcha Birwa (7,755m) in the east, which is in Tibet, and Nanga Parbat (8,125m), which is in western India and spans over 2,400 kilometers between the Indus and Brahmaputra rivers. Its centre third, or 800 kilometers, passes through Nepal and is referred to as the Nepal Himalaya. Here, there are more than 250 peaks that are higher than 6,000 meters, creating a rare cluster of towering, brilliant summits. Out of the 31 Himalayan peaks that are higher than 7,600 meters, 22 are located in the Nepal Himalaya, which also contains eight of the fourteen tallest mountains in the world. They are,
    • Mt. Everest8848m
    • Kanchenjunga8586m
    • Lhotse8516m
    • Chuoyou8201m
    • Dhaulagiri8167m
    • Manaslu8163m
      The culmination of several parallel ranges is the Himalayan range in Nepal. North of there, 90 kilometers, is the main range. The lower belt of low hills and a higher belt known as Lekh, which provides the first indication of the high snow peaks mountain, are used to build the interaction space between the two parallel ranges. The continuous chain is made up of tall peaks instead of Mount Everest, which instead sends forth a network of spurs that are studded with numerous peaks. There are mountains in Nepal's central and western regions that limit the country's border with China. The border range is rough but somewhat less mountainous, ranging from 5,000 to 6,000 meters.
      Himalaya, http://ipost24.blogspot.com/2013/06/geography-and-physical-features-of-nepal.html

Climate

The climate of Nepal varies depending on the geography and altitude, which can be anywhere from tropical to frigid. For instance, the low-land Terai region, which has a maximum altitude of 305 meters and is located in the country's tropical south, experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures that can exceed 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). Although the hilly areas are pleasant nearly all year long, the winter nights are chilly. With an elevation above 3,300 meters, the northern mountain region has an alpine climate with colder winters as can be expected.Nepal has four climatic seasons they are as follows,

  • Springs: There are many opportunities to have a tryst with the mountain views at this season because the temperatures are warm in the lowlands and temperate in higher altitude regions. Rhododendron sweeps, Nepal's national flower, grows at this time of year with its majesty color and beauty.
  • Summer (between Junes – August): In Nepal, the monsoon season is also known as summer. Summertime weather can be hot and occasionally rainy. With the exception of the evening thunderstorms, it rains virtually every day. The pleasantness is disseminated by the rain and the luxuriant green foliage.
  • Autumn (between Septembers – November): The summer is over and winter is about to arrive when tourists arrive in Nepal at this time of year. The season offers excellent weather and stunning mountain vistas. The best time to trek to the mountain is around this time of year. As they celebrate Dashain and Tihar, this is also the festival season in Nepal.
  • Winter (between Decembers – February): The sky is clear, and the temperature is cool. Higher elevations occasionally get snowfall. Lower elevational trekking is also an excellent idea during this season. Evenings and mornings are chilly, but bright days are comfortable.
  • Temperature & rainfall: Nepal is the nation that contains low-lying plains with hot, tropical climates and a fear of mosquitoes. Even though the Himalayas can experience temperatures as low as zero, the sun helps to provide some warmth during the day. The average summertime temperature in Kathmandu is 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), however it can occasionally drop to 1 degrees Celsius in the winter.
    The average temperature in Kathmandu during the four seasons:
    • Spring season has 16-23 Degree Celsius
    • Summer season has 23-25 Degree Celsius
    • Autumn season ranges has 15-24 Degree Celsius
    • Inter season ranges has 9-12 Degree Celsius

References

Countrystudies.us/nepal/25.htm

Flippo, Edwin B. Personnel Management. London: Oxford Press, 1980.

Gynwal, Ram Prasad. Know Nepal. Kathmandu: Bhundipuran Prakashan, 2012.

Hamilton, Francis B. An Account of the Kingdom of Nepal. New Delhi: Manjushri Publishing House, 1971.

Heywood, Andrew. Politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2002.

ipost24.blogspot.com/2013/06/geography-and-physical-features-of-nepal.html

visitnepal.com/travelers_guide/when_to_come.php

Things to remember
  • Nepal has long been referred to as "a yam stuck between two rocks" because of its location between the two enormous nations of India and China. There are several steep and hilly regions in Nepal, which is home to the beautiful Himalayas, known in Sanskrit as the abode of snow.
  • Nepal is also well-known for being a landlocked nation that is bordered by Tibet (in China's Xizang Autonomous Region) to the north and India on three sides. It is separated from Bangladesh by a about 15 km broad strip of the Indian state of West Bengal and from Bhutan by the 88 km wide Sikkim, another Indian state. It is difficult to be proud of one's location in such a specific area.
  • An area of fertile alluvial plain measuring 26 to 32 kilometers broad covers the Terai region in the southern section of the nation. Approximately 17% of the local area is covered by this belt, which extends from the western to the eastern boundary.
  • There are plenty of options to get a tryst with the mountain views at this season because the temperatures are warm in the lowlands and moderate in higher altitude regions. Rhododendron sweeps, Nepal's national flower, grows at this time of year with its majesty color and beauty.

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