NEPAL:
Nepal, home to Mount Everest, is dominated by the world's most imposing mountains. Although the country is relatively small (147,181 square kilometers), 80 percent of its territory is occupied by the dramatic peaks of the Himilayas Nepal was closed to foreign visitors until1951, a situation which contributed greatly to its mystique in the west. This small, hospitable country has since become an exceptionally popular destination for travelers, whether they are in search of climbing challenges or spiritual enlightenment.
Nepal can be divided into three geographical regions, each stretching from east to west across the country. The southernmost strip of land, the Terai, is bordered to the north by Himalayan foothills and to the south by the Ganges River. The area was originally covered with tropical vegetation, but has been almost completely converted to agricultural production. The Terai is now the breadbasket of Nepal and is covered with farms.
The central section of Nepal is formed by the Mahabharat Chain, a range of mountains that reach modest altitudes of 2,000-3,000 meters. Farming has become an important activity in the area; terraced farms produce rice, corn and wheat. The Kathmandu Valley, a stretch of green in the middle of the Mahabbarat, is home to Nepal's capital and other historic cities.
INDIA:
India, officially the Republic of India (Bharat Ganrajya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largeat country by area, the second most populas country with oveer 1.2 billion people and the most populous the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; China,Nepal and Bhutan to the north-east; and Burma and Bangladsh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia.
Home to the ancient and a region of historic In dus Valley Civilization trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four world religions—Hinduism,Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East Indian Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom from the mid-19th century, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for Independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led by Mahatma Gandhi.
PAKISTAN:
Pakistan is a country situated in southern part of Asia, in its north lies China the Central Asian states and the Russian federation, to the west is Afghanistan and Iran while to the east is India. Pakistan has four provinces namely Punjab, Balochistan, NWFP and Sind. Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, and five districts of the northern areas are administered directly from the Capital. Officially these districts are called Federally Administered Northern Areas (FANA). Pakistan came into being as the result of the partition of British India in 1947.
Pakistan is one of the diversified countries of the world in terms of its culture, landscape, and climate. To the north of Pakistan is the highest mountain system of world, having its harsh climate. To the west are the fertile plains of Indus valley. While to the western and southern part exist the steaming deserts. Within its borders situate the Arabian Sea, best root of Asia; this sea moderates the climate of its southern parts.
Population of Pakistan is around 140 million. Pakistan is an agricultural country. Its major exports include the agricultural products like cotton, sugar, rice and textile. The literacy rate of the country is nearly 40%. Urdu is the official language of Pakistan where as English is used for education, trade and other purposes. Pakistan's cultural heritage is very rich it has inherited the rich cultures of the thousand of years old Indus and Ghandara civilizations.
SRI LANKA:
Sri Lanka is an island country located off the southern coast of India. Sri Lanka is surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Mannar, the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and Maldives. The geography of Sri Lanka includes coastal plains in the north and hills and mountains in the interior. The government system is a republic. The chief of state and head of government is the President. Sri Lanka has transitioned to a market-orientated economy but the central government is still involved in economic planning. Sri Lanka is a member of Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
BHUTAN:
Bhutan is the land of extreme weather. Being close to one of the highest mountain ranges in the world, it has very cold climate and very good Himalayan views in Winter (October - March) and a pleasant weather in Summer in all hilly areas.
The country can be divided into three climatic zones. The north alpine region that includes mountains higher than 3000 meters above sea level, the temperate zone known as the inner Himalayas of altitudes ranging between 2000 to 3000 meters where most of the Bhutanese live, and the southern tropical belt 100-2000) that receives around 5000 millimeter of summer monsoon rain. The southern belt is hot and humid in summer but pleasant in winter.
However, climate can vary considerably between valleys and within valleys depending on the altitude. Thimphu for example is cold and dry in winter while Punakha is warm. Bhutan has four seasons. Spring (March-May), Summer (June-August), Autumn (September-November), Winter (December-February).
BANGLADESH:
Bangladesh is one of the most flood prone countries in the world. It is situated in south Asian sub-continent. The country has an area of approximately 147,000 sq km with a population of about 130 million. It is one of the most densely populated country. A location map of Bangladesh is given in fig. 1. Because of its unique geographical location and topography, flood of different magnitudes and types occurs every year. During last 50 years at least 6 extreme flood events occurred affecting about 35-70% of land area. Economic loss due to the floods was huge, e.g. in two consecutive floods of 1987 and 1988 flood damage was estimated at US$ 2.2 billion and in 1998 flood damage was estimated at US$ 2.8 billion.Bangladesh, being an agro-based country, its main objective is to increase food production. Flood control and irrigation are of prime importance towards achieving the objective of the food grain production to feed the increasing population.Afghanistan is a landlocked country located in Southern Asia that borders China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The geography of Afghanistan is arid and mountainous; the Hindu Kush Mountains run northeast to southwest and divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country. The government system is an Islamic republic. The chief of state and head of government is the President. Afghanistan has a controlled economic system in which the central government directs the economy regarding the production and distribution of goods. Afghanistan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).Afghanistan has long been a country in turmoil. For decades, Islamic movements, communists and tribal warriors have struggled for control of a nation that is geographically and ethnically fragmented. Afghanistan is still largely a tribal society, divided into many tribes, clans and smaller groups. Considerable variation in the types of terrain, and obstacles imposed by high mountains and deserts, account for the country's marked ethnic and cultural differences.
MALDIVES:
Scattered across the equator in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the gem like islands of the Maldives depict the rare vision of a tropical paradise. Palm fringed islands with sparkling white beaches, turquoise lagoons, clear warm waters and coral reefs teeming with abundant varieties of marine flora and fauna, continue to fascinate visitors, as it has fascinated others in the past, for thousands of years. Marco polo referred to the Maldives as the ' Flower of the Indies', and Ibn Batuta called her in his chronicles 'one of the wonders of the world.Truly a natural wonder, the height of the islands rarely reach above two meters. The 1,190 islands, consisting of 26 atoll formations, are spread over an area of 1,000,000 square kilometers. The Maldivian atolls are a classic discovery in its own right: the word atoll has been derived from Dhivehi, the Maldivian language, from the word atholhu. The islands are surrounded by shallow crystal clear lagoons enclosed by coral reefs. The unique islands provide visitors with one of the most breathtaking views of underwater life in the world. Formed above peaks emerging from the depths of the ocean, upon layers of both living and dead coral, and remnants of other marine life, the islands are generally covered with dense tropical vegetation. Coconut palms towering above dense shrubs and hardy plants protecting the shores from erosion are natural features in most islands. The smaller islands and sand banks under formation are also wonders in themselves. These islands together embody living entities in various stages of formation, as interdependent elements in an ecology, in a food chain where birds, fish, and other marine life co-exist, with humans at its apex as caretakers for centuries. Measuring 820 kilometers north to south and 120 kilometers east to west at its greatest width, the closest neighbors are India and Sri Lanka. With a population of 263189 (1997 estimate), only 200 islands are inhabited. Another 88 islands are set aside exclusively for tourist resort development. The origins of the Maldivians are lost in ancient history.
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