Bhutan is geographically landlocked in between the two most populated countries in the world. In the north, it is bordered by China and by India on the three sides of east, west and south. While the country’s area just spans over 38,000 sq. kms, the internal geography is varied and can be classified into three climatic geographical zones. The country’s landscape consists of high and rugged mountains in the north, deep valleys with rivers running through it in the central zones and plains in the south.
The physical geography of Bhutan is mainly divided into three zones:
• Alpine zone, this is the northern part of the country with altitudes at 4000m and above. This zone does not have forest cover and the vegetation is mainly alpine scrubs.
• Temperate zone with an altitude of 2000m to 4000m, this zone is characterized by conifer and broadleaf forests.
• Subtropical zone with an altitude of 150m to 2000m is the southern part of the country. The vegetation is tropical and subtropical vegetation.
Each of the three zones experiences different climate. The northern part of the country is sparsely populated with only certain groups of people inhabiting it during favorable climate conditions. The upper Himalayas have cold weather and the mountains are snowcapped for most of the year. The central region is densely populated with warm summer and cold winters. This zone also experiences snow during winter months. The southern part experiences humid and subtropical climate.