Physical Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Landforms

Their locations on the fringe of South Asia

means their physical and human geography
have been influenced by the South Asian core.

Nepal and Bhutan each have four geographic

zones, with few people living in the rugged
mountain areas.

Sri Lanka has two regions, a mountain range in

the Central Highlands and a plain the covers
most of the island.

Maldives is a scattered collection of 1,200

islands grouped into thirteen atolls with barrier
reefs.
Physical Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Water Systems

Nepals fast-flowing rivers feed into the Ganges

and have great potential, or ability to be
developed, as a source of hydroelectric power.

Bhutans rivers supply the Brahmaputra.

Sri Lankas Mahaweli features many spectacular

waterfalls and helps irrigate fields.

Maldives has underground aquifers, water-

bearing layers of porous rock, that supply water.

The Indian Ocean surrounds Maldives and Sri

Lanka and offers both benefits and dangers.
Physical Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Climates, Biomes, and Resources

Monsoons affect the climates of all four

countries.

Nepal and Bhutan each have four climate zones

due in part to large variations in elevation.

Maldives has a humid tropical climate.

Sri Lanka has a humid tropical climate in the

lowlands and a cooler climate in the highlands.

Bhutan has been successful in making use of, or

exploiting, its hydroelectric power.

Sri Lanka has many mineral resources.

Human Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

History and Government

In 1600s Bhutan, a Tibetan lama, or Buddhist

monk, consolidated religious and political power;
however, today it is a constitutional monarchy.

Historically ruled by many smaller kingdoms,

modern Nepal has wavered between
representative government and rule by the king.

Under European control for centuries, Maldives

became a republic in 1965.

Sri Lanka adopted a parliamentary government

after independence from Britain in 1948.
Human Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Population Patterns

Nepal is the most populous country of the

region, with 30.9 million people.

Bhutans 700,000 people live in pockets across

the rugged terrain.

Sri Lanka has a population of 21.2 million

people, with most living near the capital,
Colombo.

The city of Male is the most populous settlement

in Maldives, with a third of the countrys
300,000 people.
Human Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Society and Culture Today

Nepals population is mostly Hindu, with the

remaining ten percent Buddhist.

The Bhote in Bhutan are descendants of Tibetan

peoples, and most are Buddhist.

Sri Lankas majority Sinhalese population is

Buddhist, and the Tamil minority is Hindu.

Maldives is a mix of Sinhalese, East African, and

Arabic peoples.

Women often have second-class status in these

societies.
Human Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Economic Activities

These countries are not very economically

developed because they have relatively few
resources and are remote.

Nearly 75 percent of Nepalese are engaged in

agriculture and herding, with farmers practicing
terracing to make the most use of the land.

Tourism is an important part of the economy in

the region, with hiking, rafting, and touring
religious sites being popular in Bhutan and
Nepal, while in Sri Lanka and Maldives, people
enjoy the beaches.
People and Their Environment: Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Managing Resources

As poor countries generally lacking in

technology, these countries face obstacles to
achieving sustainable development.

Culturally, they do have advantages, as Buddhist

tradition encourages respect for nature and the
value of all life forms.

These countries have made some progress as

they realize that if they lose their natural beauty
they will lose their tourist appeal.
People and Their Environment: Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Human Impact

Major environmental problems include

deforestation, along with soil and water issues.

Commercial timber companies have used clear-

cutting, or the removal of all trees in a stand of
timber, to harvest logs, harming forests.

As rain forests disappear, soil erodes, rains

produce floods, and temperatures rise.

The wide array of endangered and rare wildlife is

threatened by encroaching settlements and
poaching.
People and Their Environment: Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka

Addressing the Issues

Bhutans constitution requires it to keep 60

percent of its land forested and it encourages
organic farming, or the use of natural
substances rather than chemical fertilizers to
grow crops.

Sri Lankas Ministry of Environment and Natural

Resources raises environmental action to the
cabinet level.

Maldives has launched programs to limit fossil

fuels and hopes, along with Bhutan, to have no
carbon emissions by 2020.