Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:
27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 38,394 sq km
country comparison to the world: 136
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: 38,394 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]

Area - comparative:
about one-half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

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
More Climate Details

Terrain:
mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - lowest point country ranks ]
highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m
[see also: Elevation extremes - highest point country ranks ]

Natural resources:
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Land use:
arable land: 2.3%
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 0.43%
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
other: 97.27% (2005)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Total renewable water resources:
95 cu km (1987)
[see also: Total renewable water resources country ranks ]

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.43 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - total country ranks ]
per capita: 199 cu m/yr (2000)
[see also: Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) - per capita country ranks ]

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, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes