Bhutan’s physical geography consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers, which form deep valleys. The river flows from many region into India’s Bramaputra. The land rise from 200 meters above sea level in the southern foothills to 7000 meters high northern mountains. About 72.5% of the Bhutan area is under forests and it is constitutional mandate to maintain 60% forest cover for all times to come.
The Himalaya Mountains of Bhutan dominate the north of the country; the peaks can easily reach 7,000 meters (22,966 ft) above sea level. The highest peak in Bhutan is Gangkhar Puensum (view from Dochula Pass) at 7,570 meters (24,840 ft). At a little higher altitude, you will reach the tree line, the point where the vegetation changes from forest into small bushes of juniper and rhododendrons.
Below the rock and ice of the highest peaks lies an extensive arc of Eastern Himalayan Alpine Shrub and Meadows which contains rhododendrons and herbaceous plants.
The highlands are the most populous part of the nation; the capital city Thimphu lies in western region. The highland has Eastern Himalayan Sub-Alpine conifer Forests at higher elevations and Eastern Himalayan Broad-Leaf Forests at lower elevations. Winters are cold and summer is hot; the rainy season is accompanied with frequented landslides.
The valley of Bhutan is linked by a series of passes. Between Haa valley and Paro valley is the Chele La (“La” in local word) at 3,780 meters (12,402 ft). The lateral road from Thimphu to Punakha crosses Dochula at 3,116 meters (10,223 ft). East of Wangdue-phodrang is the Pelela at 3,390 meters (11,122 ft). Other major pass includes the Yotang La, Thrumshing La and Kori La at 2.298 meters (7,539 ft) towards East of Bhutan.
The southern strip of the nation consist of Himalayan sub-tropical broadleaf forests that grade into tropical plains of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands. Is it largely agricultural land producing mostly rice. Centuries of Isolationism, a small population and topographical extremes have led to Bhutan maintaining one of the most intact ecosystems in the world.
