Nepal Kingdom of Nepal

General Information In 1951, a Cabinet type Government was formed. This took over from the Premiers that had been ruling for a century based on heredity. A multiparty Democracy was formed in 1990.

In 1996, there was a Maoist movement that almost brought down the Democratic regime. In 2001, the Crown Prince slaughtered his own family, and then committed suicide. In October 2002, the new King fired his cabinet for incompetence and elections were unable to be held.

The King now governs the country. There is a cease fire with the Maoist insurgents until elections can be held.

Location Absolute: 28° North Latitude, and 84° East Longitude. Relative: Between China and India.

Place Area Comparative: Slightly larger than Arkansas. Climate varies from cool summers and severe winters in the North to Subtropical summers and mild winters in the South.

Terrain is characterized by the Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in the Southern area. The central region has hills, and the North has the Himalaya Mountains.

High Point- Mt. Everest Low Point- Kanchan Kalan Natural Hazards- Severe Thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, famine depending on the time of year. Also afflicted with the summer monsoons.

Ethnicity is Nepalese. Ethnic Groups such as: Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, as well as Others.

Religions

Nepal is the only Official Hindu state in the world. Nepali is the official language. 30 major dialects.

People involved in government speak English. Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The capital is Kathmandu.

Human and Environmental Interaction Deforestation due to the use of wood fuel and lack of alternatives. Contaminated water from human and animal waste as well as agricultural runoff. Wildlife conservation problems. Problems from vehicle emissions.

Movement Highways Airports: 45 of them. 36 have unpaved runways.

Illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets. Transit point for opiates to the Western world.

Region There are small disputed areas of the border with India. India has stricter control over the border.