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Terai
The Terai region is composed of a 26 to 32 km wide broad belt of alluvial and fertile
plain in the southern part of the country. This belt extends from the westernmost part of
the country to the eastern limit and covers about 17% of the total land area.In between the
Chure hills, rising abruptly to the north of the southern plains and the Mahabharat range,
are a number of low valleys called "Duns". The Duns resemble the Terai in relief
and climate and are also called the Inner Terai. The Chure range running east west across
the country is shaped like a hedge. The hills of this range are rather sparsely forested,
averaging 600 to 1220 meters in altitude and 8-16 km in breadth. The soil is immature and
dry.
The Hills
The
Mahabharat range, running closely parallel to the Chure range, separates the Terai from
the Hill region, which covers about 64% of the total land area. This range averages 1,525
to 4,877m altitude and 16kms in breadth. Its structure is synclinal and topography steep
and jagged. Forests are usually found on the higher elevations whereas the lower and
gentler slopes are used for terraced cultivation.
North of
this range and south of the Himalayas, lies the extensively cultivated broad hill complex
of the "Pahar" of mountain region, the major subdued in character, this complex
has a generally salubrious climate. The fertile valleys formed by the principal river
systems, including the Katmandu Valley, are the main settlement and cultivation areas in
the region.
The Himalayas
The
Himalayas or "abode of snow" is in fact the youngest and highest mountain system
in the world. It extends over 2,400kms as a vast south-facing area between the Indus and
Brahmaputra rivers with Nanga Parbat (8125m) and Namcha Barwa (7755m) as its terminal high
points. Fully a third of 800kms of its central section traverses Nepal and is known as the
Nepal Himalayas, Here congregate more than 250 peaks that exceed 6,000m in height-a unique
concentration of lofty dazzling summits. Of the thirty one Himalayan peaks over 7,600m,
twenty-two like in Nepal Himalayas including eight of the worldÕs fourteen highest
giants. These are:= Go to page 1
The
Himalayan range within Nepal fits into a geographic pattern as the culmination of a series
of parallel ranges. The main mountain region, represented by the eternal ranges, lies
about 90kms north of the Mahabharat Lekh. The intervening space between the two parallel
ranges is made up of the lower belt of the low hills (Pahar) and the higher belt of
elevated ridges (Lekh) that provide the first intimation of the high snow continuous range
but rather a chain of lofty ridges separated by deep gorges. Each of these mountain chains
or Himals in turn sends out a maze of spurs studded with numerous peaks.
IN the
western and central Nepal, there is yet another mountain range that defines the boundary
between Nepal and China. This border range has elevations ranging from 5000 to 600m with
comparatively less rugged relief but a harsh climate. Between the main Himalayan range and
these border ranges lie some of the elevated Bhot Valleys.
Much of
the high country above 5000m is under the realm of snow and ice although the permanent
snow line may vary according to aspect and gradient. Winter snowfall occurs up to an
elevation of 2000m and is much heavier in the western part. While winter is harsh and
bitter, summer is the season of alpine flowers and is the time of the year when the high
pastures teem with grazing animals from lower valleys. For the mountain communities, it is
the time for harvesting their main crop before their winter migration to warmer climates
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Flat lands of Terai
Woman drying coconut
in Terai
House on
the hill
Terraces
on the way to Birethani
View from Ghorepani
Annapurna Sanctuary |