Geographical Introduction to Nepal

Flashcards covering the key geographical aspects of Nepal and its natural resources.

Nepal's Location

A small, landlocked country in South Asia, between India and China.

Nepal's Latitude

Ranges from 26 degrees 22 minutes to 30 degrees 27 minutes north of the equator.

Nepal's Longitude

Between 80 degrees 4 minutes to 88 degrees 12 minutes east, used to determine its time zone.

Nepal Time Zone

5.45 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), based on Gourishankar Himal in Dolakha.

Nepal's Area

0.03% of the world's area, 0.3% of Asia’s, and 2.82% of South Asia.

Nepal's Neighbors

Bordered by India on three sides and China to the north.

Nepal's Topography

Slopes steeply from north to south, with high mountains in the north, including Mount Everest (8,848 m).

Terai Region

Southern region featuring the Mahabharata and Chure mountain ranges, as well as plains.

Central Hilly Region

Includes valleys like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Dang, along with interior plains.

Tibetan Plateau

Lies to the north of Nepal.

Ganges Plains

Comprises the southern part of Nepal.

Himalayan Region

Northern part of Nepal with high mountains, located more than 3,000 meters above sea level.

Snow Line in Nepal

Located at 4,500 meters; above this line, snow freezes year-round.

Territory of Himalayan Region

15% of Nepal's territory.

Districts in Himalayan Region

21 districts, including Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, and others.

Highest Cultivated Place

Chungkung village in Solukhumbu, where potatoes grow at 4,400 meters.

Himalayan Valleys

Include Khumbu, Karma, and Nyanam, situated up to 5,000 meters high.

Rainfall in Himalayan Valleys

Limited, especially in Mustang, Manang, and Dolpa.

Himalayan Border with China

Stretches 1,389 kilometers, marked by mountains like Everest and Kanchenjunga.

Hilly Region

Lies between the Himalayan Mountain Range and the Terai, elevation ranges from 300 to 3000 meters above sea level.

Territory of Hilly Region

68% of Nepal's territory.

Districts in Hilly Region

28 districts, including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dang, and Surkhet.

Mahabharata Mountain Range Valleys

Kathmandu, Pokhara, Dang, and Surkhet.

Arun Valley

The world's lowest river valley.

Chure Mountain Range

The lowest part of the hilly region, ranging from 610 meters to 1872 meters above sea level.

Area Covered by Chure Mountains

12.7% of Nepal's mountainous region.

Terai Region

Southern part of Nepal along the border with India, flat and fertile, ideal for rice cultivation.

Territory of Terai Region

17% of Nepal's total area, divided into Inner Terai, Bhabar, and Main Terai.

Terai Elevation

Ranges from 58 to 300 meters above sea level, inner plains rising up to 430 meters.

Prominent Hills in Mahabharata Range

Chimkeshwari, Daman, and Swargadwari.

Major Cities in Terai

Bhadrapur, Biratnagar, and Janakpur.

Major Rivers in Nepal

Koshi, Gandaki, and Karnali, originating from the Himalayas and flowing southward.

Geographical Divisions Based on Climate

Tropical monsoon, warm temperate, cold temperate, subtropical, and polar climates.

Federal Level

Highest-level administrative unit of Nepal, also known as the central level.

Province Level

Nepal has 7 provinces including Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim.

Local Level

Includes rural municipalities, municipalities, sub-metropolitan municipalities, and metropolitan municipalities, totaling 753 local bodies.

Structure of Administrative Framework

Federal, provincial, district, and local levels of governance.

Climate of The Himalayas

Northern mountainous region, including the Himalayas, has an alpine climate with short, cool summers and cold winters.

Climate of The Hilly Region

Central hill region has a temperate climate with moderate temperatures throughout the year

Tropical Monsoon Climate

Found in the Terai, Bhawar, Dun, and Chure mountains in southern Nepal, from sea level to 1200 meters altitude.

Warm Temperate Climate

Found from the Terai and Chure Mountains of Nepal to the north of Chure and Mahabharata at an altitude of 1200 to 2100 meters.

Cool Temperate Climate

Found in the Mahabharata Mountain range of Nepal, at an altitude of 2100 to 3350 meters.

Lekali Climate

Found in the high Himalayas of Nepal at an altitude of 3550 to 5000 meters.

Mountain Climate

Found above the snow line of Nepal, where the temperature remains below 0 degrees Celsius throughout the year.

Tropical Forest

Forests mostly green in hot areas, found in Nepal's Terai, Chure, Inner Terai, and the lower part of Mahabharata Mountain, up to 1200 meters.

Temperate Deciduous Forest

Found in the Mahabharata Mountain range of Nepal at an altitude of 1200 to 2100 meters, where leaves fall in winter.

Temperate Forest

In Nepal at an altitude of 2100 meters in the Mahabharata Mountain Range to 3350 meters in the Himalayas, plants that thrive in a cold and dry climate.

Lekali Vegetation

Found in the high Himalayas of Nepal at an altitude of 3350 meters to 4500 meters,small plants and grasslands.

Tundra Vegetation

Northern Himalayan part of Nepal found higher than 4500 meters, small plants.

Water source of the Rivers of Nepal

Mountains and natural springs that define Nepal's landscape. Additionally, rainfall contributes significantly to the flow of these rivers, supplementing their volume and vitality.

Meaning of "Ku" in Tibetan in Nepal.

In Tibetan, water or a river is called "Ku."

Classifications of Nepali Rivers

Himalayan Rivers(Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali), Mahabharata Rivers(Mechi, Kankai, Trijuga, Kamala, Bagmati, Rapti, Babai, Tinau, Banganga) and Chure Rivers(Balan, Bakraha, Ratuwa, Maunawati, Lakhandevi).

Highest and Largest lake of Nepal

Located in Manang, Tilicho is the heighest lake in the world. Located in Mugu, Rara is the largest lake in Nepal

Natural divisions of Nepal

Nepal currently has 12 national parks, one hunting reserve and 6 conservation areas catering of the world's flora and fauna.

Three types of soils in Nepal

Alluvial Soil, Sandy Stony Soil, Diluvial Soil.

Importance of minerals for Nepal

Minerals are the natural things that are dug out of the ground for humans to use to make more for the society.

Human Habitation Distribution

Nepal's provinces and geographical areas are inhabited by humans.Settlement patterns vary across different regions of the country.

Population of Nepal

The current population of Nepal is 29,164,578 as per the 2021 census with the population growth rate is 0.92% per year.