Transcript Slide 1

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 groups
31 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 AngloNepali War, Nepal
loses, surrenders
territory, beginning of
weak Shah rule
• Nepalese Gorhka
soldiers enlisted by
British
• Rana Regime18461950 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