GEOGRAPHY

Location:	Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates:	28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references:	Asia
Area:	total: 140,800 sq km land: 136,800 sq km water: 4,000 sq km
Area - comparative:	slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries:	total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline:	0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims:	none (landlocked)
Climate:	varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain:	Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
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 - current issues:	deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Environment - international agreements:	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, 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 world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the world's tallest - on the border with China