Nepal is a landlocked country with a total land area of 147,181
sq. km. It lies between 26º 22' N - 30º 27' N latitude and 80º
4'E - 88º 12'E longitude. Roughly rectangular in shape, the land
extends approximately 885-kms-east west and 145 kms. The country
is bordered by China in the north and India in the south, west
and east.
The
land mass is divided into three geographical zones. The snow
capped high Himalayas, the mountainous region with long terraced
slopes leading to fertile valleys and the flat sub-tropical
Terai region. The high Himalayan region extends in the north
from west to east at an altitude of 4,000 m. to 8,848 m. The
world famous peak of Mt. Everest (8848 m.), Kanchanjunga
(8586m), Makalu (8463m.), Dhaulagiri (8167m.) Annapurna (8091m.)
and many others dominate the formidable range of everlasting
snows. The alpine region consists of mountain ranges of
Mahabharata varying in height from 1525 m. to 4877m. Below these
ranges lies the Churia range at 610 m. to 1524-m. Fertile
valleys of various width and altitude lie between these mountain
and hill ranges. The southern belt stretches east to west by a
width of 26 to 32 km. and a maximum elevation of about 305
meters.
Several major rivers, tributaries and streams flow southwards
originating from the glaciers, snow fed lakes and high Himalayan
Mountains of the north. The major rivers are the Mahakali, Seti,
Karnali, Gandaki, Koshi and Mechi.
Nepal
