Bhutan

I

Introduction

Bhutan, constitutional monarchy, southern Central Asia, in the eastern Himalaya, bounded on the north and north-west by Tibet and on the east, south, and south-west by India. It has a total area of 47,000 sq km (18,100 sq mi). The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu.

II

Land and Resources

Bhutan is almost entirely mountainous. A narrow strip along the southern border, the Duars Plain, is the country’s only area of flat land. Ranges of the Himalaya rise abruptly from the plain and generally increase in height to the north, rising to maximum elevation at Kula Kangri (7,554 m/24,784 ft) on the Chinese border. Bhutan’s rivers, none of which are navigable, flow south to the Brahmaputra in India.

Climate varies from subtropical, on the Duars Plain, to temperate, with cool winters and warm summers in the mountain valleys. It becomes increasingly harsh at higher altitudes. Average annual precipitation is generally heavy, ranging from about 1,520 mm (60 in) in the mountain valleys to more than 5,080 mm (200 in) in the Duars Plain. More than two-thirds of the country is forested. Wildlife is diverse and includes elephants, leopards, bears, and deer. Known mineral resources include copper, gypsum, iron ore, limestone, lead, coal, and dolomite; commercial exploitation is minimal.

Bhutan, which means “Land of the Thunder Dragon”, derives its name from the violent storms that descend from the Himalaya. There are frequent landslides during the rainy season. About 59 per cent (1995) of Bhutan is covered in forests and woodlands, and many diverse species of plants and animals inhabit the country. Population growth is increasing the demand for firewood and causing pressure on the 3 per cent (1997) of land that can be used for farming or pasture. Soil erosion is a serious problem in Bhutan, as is poor access to potable water and sanitation. Nevertheless, preservation of the environment is part of the country’s tradition and government policy, and 21.2 per cent (1997) of the land is protected. In 2002 an agreement was signed with the World Wide Fund for Nature to create a biodiversity museum as part of a ten-year survey of the kingdom’s wildlife.

III

Population

The largest ethnic groups in Bhutan are the Sharchop, Ngalop, and Nepalese. Nepalese constitute the largest minority. Bhutan has a population of 2,327,849 (2007 estimate), which gives a population density of nearly 50 people per sq km (128 per sq mi). Thimphu (population, 2001 estimate, 32,000) is the capital and largest town.

A

Political Divisions

There are 20 local government districts in Bhutan, known as dzongkhag. They are Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Trashi Yangtse, and Wangdi Phodrang.