Hydrology and Climate Change

Nepal is a landlocked country with a total area of 147,181 Km2 situated in South-Asian continent. Nepal, a country having peculiar diverse fauna and flora, lies between China on the north and India on the east, south and west. Its shape is long rectangular with eastern line is shorter than on the west. It stands on a latitude of 26degree 22' to 30degree 27' north and longitude is between 80degree 04' to 66degree 12' east. The east west length of the country is 885 Km. parallel to the Himalayan axis. Its altitude varies from 50-220 m. in the south rising to 8849 m. at the north. Within the small area the country has all possible land form features of the earth except the volcanic and coral islands and marine. The physiography of the land is very interesting. The country has plain areas in the south, hills and valleys in the middle and lofty Himalayas in the north.

Nepal can be divided into following regions:

(1) Terai Plain, (2) Churia Hills or Siwaliks, (3) Mahabharat Ranges, (4) Middle or Central Hills, (5) Higher or Great Himalayas.

Ecologically, Nepal can be divided into three regions:

(1) Low land including Terai, Bhabhar, Churia and Mahabharat range upto 915 m.
(2) Midland including Mahabharat range 915m as well as Middle Hill upto 2749m.
(3) Highland Great Himalayas including all regions above 2749m to 8848m. Mt. Everest.

The following is the approximate estimate of land in Nepal:

S. No. Zones Climate Approximate Area
1 TeraiPlain Subtropical 25,000Sq.km.

2 Churia hills or Siwalik range Subtropical 24,000 Sq. km.
3 Mahabharat range Temperate 24,000 Sq. km.
4 Midland Temperate 36,081 Sq. km.
5 Highland or Great Himalayas Alpine 48100 Sq. km.