Geography of Bhutan
This article describes the geography of Bhutan.
- Location:
- South Asia, between China and India
- Geographic coordinates:
- 27° 30′ N, 90° 30′ E
- Map references:
- Asia
- Area:
- Total: 47,000 km²
- Land: 47,000 km²
- Water: 0 km²
- Land boundaries:
- Total: 1,075 km
- Border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
- Coastline:
- 0 km (landlocked)
- Maritime claims:
- None (landlocked)
- Climate:
- Varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
- Terrain:
- Mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
- Elevation extremes:
- Lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
- Highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
- Natural resources:
- Timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
- Land use:
- Arable land: 2%
- Permanent crops: 0%
- Permanent pastures: 6%
- Forests and woodland: 66%
- Other: 26% (1993 est.)
- Irrigated land:
- 340 km² (1993 est.)
- Natural hazards:
- Violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
- Environment - current issues:
- Soil erosion; limited access to potable water
- Environment - international agreements:
- Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
- Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
- Geography - note:
- Landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Reference
Much of the material in this article was adapted from the CIA World Factbook 2000.
