Nepal is a South Asian country bordering India and China. It is connected to India in the south, east and west and China in the north. It covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, and extends from 145 to 241 kilometers from north to south and 850 kilometers from west to east. On the world map, it is located between 26 and 30 degrees north latitude and 80 and 88 degrees east longitude. It is geographically divided into three regions: Himalaya (Himalayas), Hills (Mountains) and Terai (Lowlands).
Himalayas:
The Himalayan range forms the northern border of the country and this region covers 15% of the total area of Nepal. World famous peaks like Everest (8848 m), Kanchenjunga (8586 m), Dhaulagiri (8167 m) etc. are the essence of this sparsely vegetated region up to 4,500 m. Some of the most beautiful animals and plants of Nepal are also abundant here. Although rare, snow leopards and birds of prey are popular with tourists. The people of this region work as guides and porters in the mountains as well as produce and sell cheese. Many also trade in Tibet and across the border to sell their goods.
Hills:
This region covers 68% of the total land area of the country. This region includes valleys like Kathmandu, Pokhara. The altitude ranges from 500 to 3,000 meters above sea level. The temperature in summer reaches an average of 32 degrees Celsius. Winters are cold, and temperatures sometimes drop below freezing. Due to the monsoon clouds coming from the Bay of Bengal, it is still raining in the eastern hilly areas. Western and rain shadow areas do not receive rainfall so mountain glaciers are the main source of rivers in this region. The hills and their forests are home to various species of birds, wild animals like leopards, barking deer and mountain black bears. More than 400 species of birds are found here. The hilly area is also popular for its variety of plants and herbs.
Terai:
The Terai region, locally known as Tarai, occupies 17% of the total area of Nepal. It offers excellent arable land and the average elevation of the lowlands is 100 to 300 meters above sea level. The sub-tropical forests, swamps and wildlife of the Terai include the Royal Bengal tiger, the one-horned rhinoceros and the gharial crocodile. About 48% of the country’s population occupies this region. The region’s flat farmlands and flexible topography have given rise to many industries.