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Environment
Landlocked
Bhutan is roughly the size of Switzerland.
It is bounded on the north and north-west
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
5000 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, 675 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 Programme 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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