About Nepal

Location:  Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 28⁰ N, 84⁰E
Map references: Asia
Area:   total: 147,181 sq km

             Land:143,181 sq km

             Water: 4,000 sq km

Area comparative:  slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries: total: 2,929 km border countries: China 1,236km, India 1,690 km
Coastline: 0km (landlocked)
Maritime claims: none (landlocked)
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winter in south
Terrain:  Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes: lowest point: Kechana  Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,850m
Natural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use:  arable land: 21.68%, permanent crops: 0.64%, other: 77.68% (2001)
Irrigated land: 11,350 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environment: deforested (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives)
Current issues:  contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions.
Environment-party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the sea, Ozone Layer Protection.
International agreements: Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation.
Geography Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of the world; s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest -the world’s tallest – on the border with China