Geography and Environment of Nepal

Nepal’s geography is perhaps the most varied and dramatic of any nation in the world. From the lowlands of the south (about 150 feet above sea level), the terrain rises in a mere 100 miles to the dramatic heights of the world's highest mountain range, the Himalayas, including Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) at 29,028 feet, 10 other mountains above 24,000 feet, and more than 200 peaks over 21,000 feet. Geographically, the country is divided into three roughly parallel strips, running east and west. The Terai Region, the southernmost strip about 15 miles wide, covers about 20% of the total land area. An extension of the Gangetic Plain of north India, once noted for its heavy jungle and still popular for big game—including tiger, rhinoceros, elephant, wild boar, crocodile, and river dolphin. The flat open country of the Terai Region blends into forested hills. Bird watching is a popular pastime in this area. The central region, sometimes called the "hill area," is about 60 miles wide. It ranges from about 3,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level, covering about 60% of the land area, and includes the Valley of Kathmandu with its encircling hills up to 9,000 feet. The northern region consists of the high mountain area, 12,000 to 29,000 feet, forming the majestic panorama of the perpetually snow-covered Himalayan Range. The region is about 25 miles wide and accounts for the remaining 20% of the total land area.

Detailed geography