Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas sandwiched between India and China. The country is divided into three major regions: plains and river valleys in the south; a mid-Himalayan range in the center; and the major peaks of the Himalayas ranging from 14,000 to 24,000 ft. above sea level in the north.

While the peaks are covered with snow throughout the year, and have a sub-arctic climate, the valleys in the southern and central regions enjoy a temperate climate. The southern plains and foothills are humid and subtropical.

The Bhutanese call their country Druk Yul, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon. It takes its name from the Himalayan storms that rage through the region, sounding like the thunder of mighty dragons. Other natural hazards include landslides caused by monsoon rains and melting glaciers which are a major source of fresh water but which contribute to the flooding of rivers along with the monsoon.

Bhutan has four major river systems: the Drangme Chhu; the Puna Tsang Chhu, also called the Sankosh; the Wang Chhu; and the Amo Chhu. Each one of them flows out of the Himalayas headed south through the Duars to join the Brahmaputra River in India. From here, the rivers pass through Bangladesh where the Brahmaputra joins the Ganges to eventually flow into the Bay of Bengal. Thus Bhutan is a landlocked country with no viable access to the sea.

The forests are rich with a diverse wildlife ranging from endangered elephants and tigers to blue sheep, leopards and cranes. They are also home to rare medicinal plants and orchids. Given its natural diversity, the country's economy is dependent mainly on tourism, agriculture, livestock and forestry. These sectors provide a source of livelihood for 90 percent of the population.

While rice, maize and millet are the main agricultural produce, the production is not sufficient to meet the nation's needs and Bhutan is a net importer of basic food grains; India is the source of rice and other grains. The nation also produces potatoes, radishes, turnips and other root vegetables, as well as spices such as cardamom and ginger.

The country's rugged terrain has led to a high density of population in few areas. While historically, the southern Duars valley and eastern Bhutan around the fertile Tashigang Valley were the most populous areas, a recent trend toward urbanization has seen people moving to cities such as Thimpu, Phuntsholing and Punakha.

Thimpu, the capital of the country and Phuntsholing are the two largest cities. Thimpu is also the preferred destination during the summer for the country's greatly respected monks. In the winter, many monks move to Punakha, another major city, which enjoys a temperate climate. Phuntsholing in the south is the gateway into Bhutan for travelers over land from India.

The country's people come from four distinct ethnic groups. The Ngalop were the earliest settlers having migrated from Tibet in the ninth century. Settled in the northern and western regions, they were responsible for bringing Buddhism into the country and are actively involved in politics and culture in modern Bhutanese society. The Nepalese can be found in large numbers in southern Bhutan, having migrated from neighboring Nepal. The Sharchop hail from the east, having migrated from Assam in India, and from Burma. The fourth group is composed of the local indigenous people who live scattered through the country but are culturally akin to the inhabitants of the eastern states of India.

The dominant religion is Buddhism, which was brought into the country from Tibet. Thus, Buddhism in the country shares its lineages, ceremonies and traditions with Tibet. Dzongkha is the main language spoken while English is taught in schools and is widely understood.

For a good printable map of Bhutan, please click on http://www.mapquest.com/atlas