Bhutan
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| Geography | Bhutan |
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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 |
Project Syndicate - Mmegi Online Project SyndicateMmegi OnlineBhutan's rugged geography fostered the rise of a hardy population of farmers and herdsmen, and helped to foster a strong Buddhist culture, closely connected ...and more » Passions and Detachment in Journalism - New York Times (blog) Passions and Detachment in JournalismNew York Times (blog)But they will be dispersed in time and geography, constituting the ultimate slow drip. What this debate will swing on, ultimately, is the softer stuff ...and more » Bhutanese refugee leaders announce unified move for democracy in Bhutan - ReliefWeb (press release) Bhutanese refugee leaders announce unified move for democracy in BhutanReliefWeb (press release)... Balaram Poudyal, the chairman of BPP, said that nothing could be expected with armed struggle since Bhutan has a different kind of geography. ... |
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