Bhutan is a mountainous and landlocked country situated in the eastern part of the Himalayan Mountain range. It has at least 20 mountain peaks with heights of over 7,000 m above sea level. The country is surrounded to its east, south and west, by India’ and to its north by Tibet of China., and has an area of 46,500 sq km. Its length from east to west is about 300 km and from north to south is about 170 km.
The northern part of the country is on very high elevation, with the Great Himalayan Mountain Range bordering Tibet being over 7,500 m above sea level. This region is snow-capped for most of the year and has many glaciers, which feed the rivers in Bhutan. The country’s highest peak, Kulha Gangri, at 7,554 m above sea level, is located in this region.
The centre of the country is dominated by the Black Mountains, which are the southern extensions of the mountains to the north and are dissected by valleys and gorges descending from north to south. This region generally has an elevation of below 3,000 m above sea level, and large portions of it are covered by forests.
The southern-most region consists of the foothills of the Himalayas and the Duars Plain which Bhutan shares with India. The region is covered by forests and its southern portion around the Duars Plain consists of river valleys with fertile soil for agriculture.
The country’s four main rivers (Drangma Chhu, Mo Chhu, Torsa Chhu and Wang Chhu) all come down from the Himalayas, through the valleys in the central region and flow to the foothills further south before joining the Ganges River system. The rivers traverse steep and rugged terrain and are mostly not suitable for river transport.
Less than 10 percent of the land is used for human habitation and agriculture; about 10 percent consists of snow-covered mountains and glaciers; and most of the rest is covered mainly by forests.
