Bhutan Geography 1997

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 incentral valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 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 thecountry's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslidesduring 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 severalkey Himalayan mountain passes

NOTE: The information regarding Bhutan on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bhutan Geography 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bhutan Geography 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.