Geography of Bhutan
Location: South Asia, between China and IndiaGeographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total:
47,000 sq km
land:
47,000 sq km
water:
0 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of Indiana
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 sq km (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.
