A unique geographical diversity
Geographically, too, Bhutan is a country apart. The land of the Thunder Dragon unfolds like a veritable staircase, passing for a handful of kilometres from the rainforest to the highest peaks in the world. Numerous torrents originate in these perched mountains and water the valleys, which are particularly fertile and wooded. True blue jewels, about sixty natural mountain lakes have also been identified in Bhutan, as well as more than 2,500 glacial lakes, most of them located at more than 3,500 meters above sea level. The most impressive of these is Luggye Tsho, a morainal glacial lake in north-western Bhutan fed with water from the melting glacier upstream. From north to south, the country is distinctly divided into three lateral zones: the Great Himalayas, the inner Himalayas and the southern foothills. A unique relief which obviously goes hand in hand with very present natural risks: floods, landslides, avalanches, violent storms and earthquakes..
Three distinct zones
Northern Bhutan. This territory materializing the border with Tibet is that of the highest peaks. Most of them have never been climbed and the massif, covered with eternal snow, remains for the most part impassable. The regions of Lingshi, Laya and Lunana, dotted with glacial reliefs, as well as the high valleys of Merak and Sakteng, are inhabited by semi-nomadic yak herders. They are a valuable resource for Bhutan's rivers and represent a high potential for hydropower resources
Central Bhutan. It is here, between deep valleys and forested mountains, that three quarters of Bhutan's population is concentrated. The major cities (Thimphu, Punakha, Trongsa) are located in this area, between 1 000 and 3 500 m altitude. Bordering the east and west of Bhutan, via the Pelela Pass, located at 3 300 m altitude, the Black Mountains stand like a natural border in the heart of the country. In the west, if the Ha valley, with its harsh climate, is essentially turned towards livestock, those of Punakha and Wangduephodrang appear, they are particularly adapted to agricultural practices. Further east, the Donga range follows the border between Bumthang and Lhuntse districts. Rice cultivation reigns supreme there. To the east of this massif lies East Bhutan. Here, agriculture is more varied (buckwheat, barley, wheat, millet and potatoes) and coexists with livestock farming, which is an important source of income for the local population.
Southern Bhutan. In the south of the country, a completely different landscape is revealed. Oscillating from 900 to 1 200 m in altitude, the Shivalik Mountains, which form the youngest of the Himalayan ranges, are covered with dense semi-tropical forests. Further south, the southern edge of the country is formed by the Ganges and Duars Plain, a narrow strip of land some 15 kilometres wide that marks the border with India. The majority of these plains, once invaded by Bhutan, now lie within Indian territory. Adjacent to the Himalayas, the Duars have a rugged relief, dry and sloping terrain and relatively fertile soils. The vegetation, consisting of tropical forests and savannahs, is dense and the fauna is abundant. This region, little frequented by the Bhutanese, has developed considerably under the impetus of Nepalese migrants, who were called by Bhutan to clear the area.
