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Geography
Geographically the country is divided into three main geographical regions The Himalayas, the Hills and the Terai (plain land).
The Himalayas
The Himalayan region is the northernmost region of the country. Its altitude ranges between 4,877 m. to 8,848 m. and the width north-south is 25-50 k. m.
It extends from east to west and accounts for 15% of the total land of Nepal. The northern 16 districts of Nepal are mostly within this region.
The snowline lies between 4000-5000 m. Vegetation become sparser with altitude and almost ends at 4,500m.
Some of Nepal's most beautiful animals and plants are found in this region.
Although rare, the snow leopard and Danphes (Lophophorus), the national bird of Nepal, are found here. Livestock, yak, sheep, goats and
high-altitude agriculture, potato, oats, corn provide for the partial subsistence of the people. Trade with Tibet and off-farm works as labor, guides,
high-altitude porters contribute substantially for survival.
The Hills
In between the Himalayas, and the Tarai are the mid-hills of Nepal, mainly made of the Mahabharat, Siwalik and partly of Chure ranges,
which contains 68% of the Nepalese land. The altitude ranges between 600m. to 4877 m. (average 3000m.).
Altogether, 39 of the 75 administrative districts are within this region. It's the most habitable region of Nepal with temperate climate and
with temperature ranges between a few degrees minus to 32° Celsius. Because of the mild climate, plentiful of shrews and livers,
concentration of large number of flora, the region has become an ideal home for many exotic animals, including spotted leopard, barking deer,
Himalayan black bear, over 400 species of birds and as many varieties of butterflies.
The main occupations of the people of this region are farming, horticulture, livestock, trading and services.
This region is also a main attraction to tourists, who are catalyzing to economy.
Various Tibet Burman and Indo-Aryan peoples inhabit this region. Main ethnic groups are Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar, Rai, Limbu, Tamang, Gurung,
Magar, Jirel, Sunwar, Chepang etc. ethnic groups has its own distinct socio-cultural pattern in Nepal.
Terai ( The Plain Land)
The Tarai covers 17% of the area of Nepal. It provides excellent farming land. Average elevation is 100 to 300 meter above sea-level.
The Tarai sub tropical forest is rich in flora and fauna, which include the Royal Bengal Tiger, one horned rhino and the Gharial crocodile.
After the eradication of Malaria in the 1960s, many people migrated to the Tarai in search of fertile farmland. Today, Terai is home of about 48 % of the Nepalese.
High concentration of the population, easy access to major north Indian cities, a reasonable network of roads have made Terai the economic power-house of Nepal,
where most of the manufacturing industries are based. Moreover, Nepal's trade-window to overseas market, Calcutta port, is about 1000 km. from Birganj,
a major industrial town. Other important towns of southern Nepal are: Mahendra Nagar, Dhangadi, Nepalgunj, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Birgunj and Biratnagar.
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