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Location:
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Southern Asia, between China and India
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Geographic coordinates:
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27 30 N, 90 30 E
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Map references:
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Asia
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Area:
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total: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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about half the size of Indiana
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
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Terrain:
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mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
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Natural resources:
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timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.98%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.59% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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violent storms 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
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion; limited access to potable water
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
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