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Nepal: Geography
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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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28 00 N, 84 00 E
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Map references:
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Asia
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Area:
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total: 140,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km
land: 136,800 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Arkansas
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 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 from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
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Terrain:
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Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (1999)
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Natural resources:
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quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
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Land use:
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arable land: 20.27%
permanent crops: 0.49%
other: 79.24% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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11,350 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
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Geography - note:
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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
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