Nepal Studies
Geography of Nepal
Physical features (mountains, rivers, climate)
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Physical features (mountains, rivers, climate)
Physical Features of Nepal
Mountains
- Nepal holds eight of the world's highest peaks, out of ten, known as the Eight-Thousanders.
- The most prominent mountain and world's highest peak, Mount Everest, is located in Nepal, standing at 8,848 meters above sea level.
- Other notable mountains include Kanchenjunga (8,586m), Lhotse (8,516m), Makalu (8,481m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Dhaulagiri I (8,167m), Manaslu (8,156m), and Annapurna I (8,091m).
- These mountains form part of the Himalaya range, a significant geographical barrier impacting Nepal's climate and biodiversity.
Rivers
- The major rivers of Nepal are the Ghaghara, Gandaki, and the Kosi. They are all tributaries of the Ganges.
- Ghaghara (locally known as Karnali) is the longest river in Nepal.
- The Bagmati river is culturally significant, particularly in Kathmandu Valley, known for hosting traditional cremation ceremonies.
- These rivers are often fed by glacial melt from the Himalayas and have a large majority of their flow occurring during the monsoon.
Climate
- Nepal's climate varies significantly due to its wide range in altitude, from tropical in the lowlands to arctic at higher altitudes.
- The country experiences a monsoon climate, with the majority of precipitation occurring between June and September due to the South-West Monsoon.
- Average temperatures vary from around 25°C in the Terai plains to below zero in the mountainous regions.
- Climatic zones in Nepal are categorized into five main zones: the Terai, the Hill region, the Mountain region, the Sub-alpine region, and the Alpine region.
- Climate change is a significant concern for Nepal with increasing temperatures impacting glacial melt rates and weather patterns.
