Political Geography
Nepal’s political geography can be traced back to the Kirant tribe more than 2,500 years ago (Nepal, 2016). The region has been controlled by various tribes and fractions beginning in the 4th century, such as the Newar who flourished in what is now modern day Kathmandu valley as a Hindu-Buddhist culture (Nepal and Bhutan Political Geography, 2017). Until 1482 Nepal was broken up into various small kingdoms, after which Nepal split into three distinct regions, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan (Nepal and Bhutan Political Geography, 2017). The principalities and small ethnic groups were unified by King Prithvi Narayah Shah in 1768 (Nepal and Bhutan Political Geography, 2017). In the late 18th century Nepal was invaded by China when a dispute over trade occurred with Tibet but was settled and in that same year Nepal began a commercial treaty with the British in India until 1814 when hostilities arose between the British East India Company in which Nepal lost a large piece of land in its southern border to the British East India Company (Gale, 2016). |
Topography
Much like its culture Nepal has a rich and vastly different topography with three distinct areas. The flat area known as the Terai, lies along its Southern border to India and consists of plains and tropical jungles (Nepal-Topography, 2017). About one-third of the population lives and works in this region and it makes up about one-fourth of Nepal’s total area. The second region is the largest with the least populated, it is the mountain region formed by the Mahabharat, Churia and Himalayan mountain ranges (Nepal-Topography, 2017). The altitude rises the further North until culminating on the Tibetan border with the Sagarmatha mountain or better known as Mt. Everest (Nepal-Topography, 2017). Originating in the mountains from glaciers and snow-fed lakes is Nepal’s three principle rivers which flow South and culminating in the basins of Karnali, Kosi and Gandak (Nepal-Topography, 2017). The last region is the most populated and it lies between the Terai and the mountains and it is known as the Kathmandu Valley or The Valley of Nepal (Nepal-Topography, 2017). This region is a high region has fertile soil and is a temperate climate. Nepal can boost of having eight of the world’s highest mountains within its borders, which are located in the Himalayan range. |
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The YouTube video explores the geographical diversity of Nepal.
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This YouTube video will explore the history of the geography.
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