Bhutan Geography
LocationSouthern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Area
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about 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 carbide
Land use
arable land: 3.09%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.48% (2001)
Irrigated land
400 sq km (1998 est.)
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, 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
