|
Nestled
among the world’s greatest mountains, Nepal – the ‘Abode of
the Gods’ – is surrounded on three sides by India and on one
side by China. Only 147,181 square kilometres in area, it is
one of the world’s most geographically diverse territories.
This diversity is reflected throughout Nepal. The Trisuli River,
for instance, begins as a trickle of ice water high in a valley
20,000 feet above sea level. Then, in less than 160 kilometres,
it swells enough to cut deep gorges into the Himalayas – the
mightiest mountain range in the world. Stretching from north-west
to south-east about 800 kilometres, and varying in width from
90 to 230 kilometres, Nepal also has the greatest range of altitude
to be found on the planet. The Terai is only about 100 metres
above sea level; Mt. Everest, the world’s highest point is at
8,848 metres.
Nepal
may be classified into several physiographic or natural zones:
the southern plains, four mountain ranges and the valleys
that lie between them.
|
|
|
| The
Terai |
|
 |
The
Terai region is the part of the Gangetic Plain that enters Nepal
from India. It is a fertile region filled with paddy fields,
mango groves, bamboo stands and villages shaded by palm trees.
The Terai lifts so suddenly into the mountains that all that
stands between it and the first range of foothills known as
the Bhabar, is a stony strip of land that is virtually useless
for cultivation. The
hot sub-tropical plains of the Terai hold some of the most fascinating
attractions in Nepal. The Royal Chitwan National Park, once
the hunting ground of British and Nepali aristocrats, offers
the great thrill of scouting for wildlife on the back of an
elephant, in a jeep, by canoe or over jungle paths. Janakpur
is a city bustling with pilgrims as it is believed to be the
birthplace of Sita, the wife of Lord Ram, mentioned in the Hindu
epic Ramayana. Two other important devotional sites in
the Terai are Devghat and Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
|
|
|
| Chure
Hills |
|
|
The
Chure Hills, an extension of the Siwalik Hills in India, are
the first of the four Himalayan ranges and run the length of
Nepal. They have an average height of 900 metres but stand as
high as 1,350 metres in places. These hills separate the Terai
from the Inner Terai and harbour the fossils of many species
no longer found in Eurasia. The discovery of the fossils of
the Gigantopithecus, a large mountain ape dating
back to half a million years ago, fuels the hopes of some adventurers
that the legendary yeti may still roam the mountains. Like the
Bhabar, the soil in these hills is unsuitable for cultivation,
so vast tracts of tropical forests stand untouched in the area.
|
|
| Inner Terai
(Duns) |
|
Inner Terai
consists of longitudinal basins about 150 metres above sea level.
Formed by east-west flowing rivers, these basins stand between
the Chure Mountains and the next range of foothills. Before
the 1950s, when DDT was introduced, the Terai was sparsely inhabited
by the Tharus, who cultivated land in the lower areas during
the day and returned to their homes higher up in the mountains
after sunset. The Tharus demonstrated partial resistance to
malaria, and together with the tropical forests that the Rana
prime ministers (1846 to 1951) cultivated, stood as a buffer
between Nepal and a possible British invasion. After malaria
was eradicated, large numbers of hill people seeking fertile
land settled in the area. The forest cover diminished rapidly
until the Royal Chitwan National Park was established in 1973
to preserve the wildlife in the area.
|
|
| Mahabharat
Range
|
|
The
next range of foothills located further north is the Mahabharat
Range, also known as the Middle Foothills. Varying between 1,500
metres and 2,700 metres, these fairly steep mountains are characterised
by soil that is conducive to agriculture and terrace farming.
Remnants of sub-tropical forests can be found on their lower
slopes. Temperate elements can be seen on the upper reaches,
which are unsuitable for cultivation. The Middle Foothills are
criss-crossed by three major river systems – the Karnali, the
Narayani and the Sapt Kosi.
|
|
| Pahar
Zone |
|
The
broad stretch of land between the Mahabharat Range and the Himalayas
is known as the Pahar Zone or the midlands. It includes fertile
valleys that were once large lakes, such as Kathmandu, Banepa
and Pokhara. This is an area that has been inhabited for centuries
and currently supports half of Nepal’s population. It ranges
between 1,000 and 2,000 metres above sea level with sub-tropical
and lower temperate forests, most of which have been cleared
for fuel, fodder, and farming.
The
Pokhara region is unique both for its magnificent location
at the foothills of the Annapurna range as well as for its
abnormally high rainfall. Cultivation here is limited to areas
below 2,000 metres. Due to the rainfall, most minerals except
for iron and aluminium oxide are leached out of the red laterite
soil.
In
contrast, the Humla-Jumla area in the west is protected by the
southern ranges that tower at 4,000 metres. Their height prevents
monsoon moisture from reaching, as a result of which it is filled
with uneroded valleys, snowless peaks and drier vegetation.
|
|
| The
Himalayas |
|
Nepal’s
borders contain about a third of the entire Himalayan range,
as well as 10 of the world’s 14 peaks that exceed 8,000 metres
in height. Although Everest draws thousands for its reputation
as the world’s highest peak, there are many other Himalayan
mountains that command attention with far greater beauty. Chief
among these is the sacred Machhapuchhare (Fishtail) Peak, which
rises to 6,997 metres above Pokhara. If it weren’t for Everest,
this mountain would probably be one of the most spectacular
sights on earth, especially as its reflection can be seen in
the waters of the Phewa Lake below.
The Himalayas are cultivated through terrace farming up to about
2,700 metres or to the level of clouds and mist. The high temperate
forests above that height are fairly well preserved.
|
|
| Inner
Valleys |
|
The
broad, glacier-marked inner valleys found in the Everest, Langtang
and upper Kali Gandaki areas are well protected from the strong
winds that would otherwise erode their floors. The mountainous
walls of these high valleys also create delicate ecosystems
unique to the area.
|
|
| Trans-Himalaya
|
|
The
high desert region lying north of the Himalayas is similar to
the Tibetan Plateau. It includes the dry and barren valleys
of Mustang, Manang and Dolpo, as well as the fourth range of
mountains that stretches from central to northwestern Nepal.
This region lies in the rain-shadow area and receives much less
rain than the southern slopes. Rocky formations, some of which
resemble crumbling fortresses, are typical of its stark landscape.
|
 |
|
