Bhutan Geography Profile 2008

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references

Asia

Area

total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about one-half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries

total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Land use

arable land: 2.3%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 97.27% (2005)

Irrigated land

400 sq km (2003)

Total renewable water resources

95 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.43 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%)
per capita: 199 cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

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

Environment - current issues

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes