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Bhutan Geography Profile

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LocationSouthern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map referencesAsia
Areatotal: 38,394 sq km

land: 38,394 sq km

water: 0 sq km
Area - comparativeslightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana
Land boundariestotal: 1,136 km

border countries (2): China 477 km, India 659 km
Coastline0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claimsnone (landlocked)
Climatevaries; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Terrainmostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Elevation extremeshighest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m

lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m

mean elevation: 2,220 m
Natural resourcestimber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Land useagricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)

forest: 85.5% (2018 est.)

other: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Irrigated land320 sq km (2012)
Total renewable water resources78 billion cubic meters (2017 est.)
Natural hazardsviolent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Geography - notelandlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021

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