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The Kingdom of Nepal covers an area of
147,181 sq km, and stretches 145-241 km north to south and 850 km west to
east. The country is located between India in the south and China in the
north. At latitudes 26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88 degrees
east, Nepal is topographically divided into three regions: the Himalaya to the
north, the hills consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills, and
the Terai to the south. Elevations are varied in the kingdom. The highest
point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the lowest point (70 m above
sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of ihapa District. Altitude increases
as you travel south to north. To the north temperatures are below -40 degrees
Celsius and in the Terai, temperatures rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the
summer. During June, July and August, monsoon clouds influence the kingdom.
The Himalayan range makes up the northern border of the country and represents
16% of the total land area of Nepal. Peaks like Mt. Everest (8848 m),
Kanchenjunga (8598 m), and Dhaulagiri (8137 m) are found here and sparse
vegetation is found up to 4,500 m. Some of Nepal's most beautiful animal and
plant life are also found here. Although rare, the snow leopard and danphe
bird are much talked about sights among visitors. The people in this region
produce and sell cheese besides working as porters and guides. Many also trade
with Tibet and travel across the border to sell their goods.
Hilly region covers 65% of the total land area of the country. Kathmandu, the
capital of Nepal is located here. Elevations range from 500 to 3,000 m above
sea level. During summer the temperature reaches an average of 32 degrees
Celsius. Winters are cold, temperature reaching -degree Celsius sometimes.
Areas in the eastern hills receive more rainfall because of the monsoon clouds
that come from the southeast. The rivers in the west that do not receive much
rainfall are dependent upon the melted snow that flow down the Himalaya. Wild
animals to be found here are the spotted leopard, barking deer, and Himalayan
black bear. The hilly region is also popular for different kinds of birds.
Over four hundred species of birds are found here. The people in this region
have gained from the growth in the tourism industry. The people here work as
trekking guides and porters and also sell garments and carpets to add to their
income.
The Terai covers 17% of the total land area of Nepal. It provides excellent
farming land and the average elevation of flatlands is 100 to 300 m above
sea-level. Sub-tropical forest areas, marshes, and wildlife that include the
Royal Bengal tiger, onehorned rhino, and the gharial crocodile are found here.
After the eradication of malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the
Terai in search of farming land. Today, about 48% of the country's population
occupy this region. Flat farmlands and the region's flexible topography have
given rise to many industries. The main industrial towns are Biratnagar,
Butwal, Bhairawa, Birgunj, and Janakpur. Calcutta, a metropolitan city in
India is the closest sea-port. It lies 1,000 kilometers away from Birguni.
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