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Environment
Landlocked
Bhutan is roughly the size of Switzerland. It is bounded on the
north and northwest by Tibet, with India nudging its remaining borders.
Virtually the entire country is mountainous, peaking at the 7554m
(24,777ft) Kulha Gangri on the Tibetan border. North to south it
features three geographic regions; the high Himalaya of the north,
the hills and valleys of the centre, and the foothills and plains
of the south. Its great rivers helped sculpt its geography and their
enormous potential for hydropower has helped shape the economy.
Thanks
to centuries of isolationism, its small population and topographical
extremes, Bhutan's ecosystem is virtually intact, and boasts the
most varied habitats and a rich array of animal and plant species.
Under Bhutanese law, 60% of the kingdom will remain forested for
all time. There is currently a remarkable 72% forest cover and an
astonishing array of plants; more than 5500 species, including over
300 medicinal strains. There are 165 species of mammals, including
many rare and endangered animals such as the golden langur, snow
leopard and red panda. So far, 770 species of birds have been recorded,
including the rare and endangered black-necked crane.
Just
over a quarter of the kingdom is in protected areas, all of which
encompass inhabited regions. A progressive integrated conservation
and development program reconciles the needs of the community with
environmental protection, the foundation of Bhutan's entire economic
ethos. National parks sustain important ecosystems and have not
been developed as tourist attractions. In many cases you won't even
be aware that you are entering or leaving a protected area.
Bhutan's
climate varies widely from the tropical southern border areas to
the perpetually snow-covered peaks of the high Himalaya, just 150km
(93mi) north as the crow flies. At the same latitude as Miami and
Cairo, its climate depends largely on elevation. It bears the brunt
of the monsoon, receiving more rainfall than other Himalayan regions,
sometimes up to 5.5m (18ft) a year.
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