Nepal

Nepal’s Geography

• Altitude ranges from 650’ above sea level to >28,000 ft

• Located on same latitude as Fla. but holds 8 of world’s 10 highest mountains

• Bordered to the north by Tibetan Autonomous Region (China)

• Bordered on South by India

• Great climate extremes from humid tropical jungle to arctic desert

• Monsoon season hits east Nepal & drops more rain than in west Nepal

Topographical Map

Terrace Farming Nepal

Geographical Challenges

• 16% arable land

• Earthquakes, landslides due to mountainous terrain

• Monsoons =unequal distribution of water, severe thunderstorms, flooding, drought famine depending on nature of monsoon season

• Impact of climate change

Nepal’s ethnic groups31 different culture groups & 52

languages

Demographics

• Pop=29 million (2008 est)

• Infant Mortality 62deaths/1,000 live births

• Life expectancy: males 61 yrs

Female 60 yrs

Literacy ( 15 yrs + who can read & write)

• Male 63%, female 35%

• Religions: Hindu 81%• Buddhist 11%,

Muslim 4% Other…• Languages: Nepali

48%, Mathali 12%, Bhojpuri 7%, Newar 3 % Others…

Health of Children

Hindu Temple Pohkara

Hindu Pilgrims Nepal

Buddhist Temple Kathmandu

Modern History

• 18thc Prithvi Narayan Shah & Gorkha armies conquer smaller kingdoms and unify Nepal

• Law code influenced by Brahmanical law

• Royal family Hindu• Buddhism still

practiced

• 1814-1816 Anglo-Nepali War, Nepal loses, surrenders territory, beginning of weak Shah rule

• Nepalese Gorhka soldiers enlisted by British

• Rana Regime1846-1950 Prime Ministers powerful, kings nominal

Prithvi Narayan Shah 18thc

• Later portrait

19thc Rana’s continue strict cast system, marry into royal family, discriminate against Buddhists, seize monasteries

20thc Nepal

• 1951 Nepalese kings reestablish power

• End reign of Rana Prime Ministers

• Shahs open up Nepal to outside world

• Limited reforms

• 1990 Multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy

• 1996 Maoist insurgency gains influence

• 2001 crown prince kills king & other family members

• Uncle takes control

20thc cont.

• 2005 King (uncle) dissolves gov’t & declares state of emergency

• Protests ensue, Nov 2006 accords w/ Maoist insurgency who are allowed to enter Parliament

• Agreement to hold election in April 2008 to vote on memebers for a Constituent Assembly who will draft a new Constitution for Nepal

• Maoist won largest number of seats

Red is Maoist /green NC/

Political Parties in Nepal

• Nepali Congress Party: established business & status quo group

• CPN-Maoist political party, advocates radical social & political change

• RPP-Royalist, conservative advocate return to monarchy

• Madhesi People’s Rights Forum

• UML-United Marxist Lenin Party

• 2008 elections 25 political parties won seats in Constituent Assembly-responsible for creating new constitution

Challenges for 21st C Nepal

• Unemployment rate 42%

• Pop. Below poverty line 31%

• Per capita income $311

• Labor force by occupation 76% agriculture

• 6% industry

• No oil or natural gas reserves

• 11,530 bbl/day oil imports

• Largest trading partner – India

• Deforestation, dessication

• National Parks & tourism vs local control

TRANSPORTATION

• Landlocked nation• 10 paved airports & 37

unpaved• 59 km Railroads• 9800 km paved roads• 7400 unpaved• Nepal slightly larger in

size than Arkansas• 1/3 pop. Has no road

access

School & classroom in Nepal

A national park in Nepal

Nepal