Short facts about the geography of Bhutan

Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic 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

Source: World Factbook