Bhutan's Landscape: From Subtropical Plains to Himalayan Peaks

Bhutan, the "Land of the Thunder Dragon," packs extraordinary geographic diversity into 38,394 km² (14,824 sq mi)—roughly the size of Switzerland.

Three Main Physiographic Zones

1. Southern Foothills (Duars Plain) — 100–1,500 m

• Subtropical climate, monsoon-drenched
• Fertile alluvial soil — rice, maize, citrus, cardamom
• Dense subtropical forest (sal, teak, bamboo)
• Wildlife: Elephant, tiger, rhino (historically), golden langur
• Border with India (Assam, West Bengal)

2. Inner Himalayas (Middle Hills) — 1,500–4,000 m

• Temperate climate, distinct seasons
• Steep valleys, terraced agriculture, conifer/broadleaf forests
• Most population lives here (Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue)
• Crops: Rice, wheat, barley, potatoes, apples, vegetables
• Forestry: Sustainable yield management (constitutional mandate: 60% forest cover)

3. Great Himalayas (High Mountains) — 4,000–7,570 m

• Alpine to nival zones; permanent snow/ice above ~5,500 m
• Glaciers, glacial lakes, high-altitude wetlands
• Pastoralism: Yak, sheep, horses (transhumance)
• Sacred peaks: Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 m) — world's highest unclimbed mountain
• Jomolhari (7,326 m), Jichu Drake (6,794 m)

Hydrology: The Water Tower

• Four major river systems: Amo Chhu, Wang Chhu, Puna Tsang Chhu (Sankosh), Drangme Chhu (Manas)
• All flow south to Brahmaputra (India)
• Hydropower: ~30,000 MW potential; major export revenue (to India)
• Run-of-river projects minimize reservoir impact

Biodiversity Hotspot

• 5,600+ plant species (600+ orchids, 46 rhododendrons)
• 770+ bird species
• 200+ mammals (tiger, snow leopard, red panda, takin, musk deer)
• Constitutional mandate: 60% forest cover forever
• Protected areas: >50% of land (parks, corridors, sanctuaries)

Climate Change Vulnerability

• Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) — major threat
• Shifting agro-zones, pest migration
• Water security for downstream millions