Geography

Bhutan has an area of 18,150 square miles (47,000 square kilometers). It is bounded by the Chinese region of Tibet on the north and by India on the east, south, and west. The land, which ranges from mountains to jungles, consists of three regions—the Great Himalayas, Lesser Himalayas, and Duars plain.

The northern part of Bhutan lies within the Great Himalayas. The snowcapped mountain peaks rise to heights of more than 24,000 feet (7,300 meters). Pastures on the mountain slopes are used for grazing yaks in the summer months. The Lesser Himalayas, in central Bhutan, have broad, fertile valleys. The Duars is a plain 8 to 10 miles (13 to 16 kilometers) wide along the south of Bhutan. The Duars is covered with a dense semitropical forest and undergrowth.

Bhutan's climate varies with the elevation. Only the central mountain valleys have a moderate climate. The remainder of the country experiences either extreme heat, as in the Duars, or extreme cold, as in the Himalayas of the north.

Plants and animals

Bhutan has a wide variety of plants. Pine and oak trees are typical in the lower slopes of the mountains, though they also grow in the higher regions. Other trees include walnut, rhododendron, poplar, and magnolia.

The animals include rare mammals such as snow leopards and golden langurs (slender, long-tailed monkeys). There are also many migratory birds. To protect the wildlife, the Bhutanese government has established several wildlife sanctuaries.

People and culture

There are three main ethnic groups in Bhutan—the Bhutia, Sharchops, and Nepalese. The Bhutia, who are of Tibetan descent, make up more than half of the population and dominate politics. They live in northern, central, and western Bhutan. The Bhutia practice Tibetan Buddhism, which is the country's official religion. They speak a variety of Tibetan dialects. The most common of these is Dzongkha, the country's official language. The Sharchops, who were probably the first to live in the region, came from nearby Indian areas and settled in eastern Bhutan. They practice Buddhism as well. The Nepalese, historically the most recent arrivals, live in the southwest. They speak Nepali and practice Hinduism.

Bhutanese art is closely associated with Buddhism. During religious festivals tales from Buddhist history and mythology are told through dance. The craftspeople of Bhutan work with bronze, silver, and other metals. Their skill can be seen on the doors and pillars of temples and on tables, swords, trumpets, and jewelry.

Economy

Farming is the principal occupation of the people of Bhutan. There are many livestock and sheep-breeding farms. The Bhutanese grow rice, corn, potatoes, barley, wheat, buckwheat, and other cereals, as well as fruits and vegetables.

There is some small-scale industry in Bhutan, most of it centering on the processing of timber and food. Individual workers also produce items such as matches, textiles, and carpets. There is some silkworm farming.

A highway system has been developed that connects Bhutan with India. On the mountain roads, however, yaks, mules, and ponies continue to be used. The country has air service to other countries. Although the number of visitors is closely regulated, tourism has come to be an important source of revenue.

History

Little is known of Bhutan's early history. It is thought, however, that Tibetans migrating southward settled in the area beginning in the 9th century AD. In the 17th century a Tibetan Buddhist priest by the name of Sheptoon La-Pha became the first king of Bhutan.

Beginning in the 18th century Bhutan fought several border disputes with neighboring countries. Great Britain helped Bhutan resolve some of these disputes. Eventually Bhutan signed an agreement with the British that allowed the British to guide Bhutan in foreign affairs. In 1949 India took over Britain's role. The next year China occupied neighboring Tibet. India built roads in Bhutan to make it easier to defend the country in case of attack from China. This ended the country's isolation from the rest of the world. In the 1960s the government began to modernize the country by abolishing slavery, among other things.

In 1990 some 100,000 residents fled the country when the government declared that they must practice Tibetan Buddhism. At the end of the 1990s the government made changes to become more democratic. The refugee problem continued, however. Population (2000 estimate), 667,000.