Chapter 27 Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, & Sri Lanka
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 Nepal s fast-flowing rivers feed into the Ganges and have great potential, or ability to be developed, as a source of hydroelectric power. Bhutan s rivers supply the Brahmaputra. Sri Lanka s 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.
Rivers of Nepal
Koshi River, Nepal
Mahaweli River, Sri Lanka
Physical Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka Climates, Biomes, & 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.
Reflection Question 1. What do you think might be an advantage and a disadvantage of having a remote location, such as Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives?
Human Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka History & 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.
Reflection Question 2. We live in a representative democracy. South Asia has had many forms of government. Besides a democracy, what type of government do you believe is most effective and why?
Human Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka Population Patterns Nepal is the most populous country of the region, with 30.9 million people. Bhutan s 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 country s 300,000 people.
Reflection Question 3. Countries such as the Maldives, that contribute virtually nothing to green house gases, are under severe threat due to rising sea levels caused by global warming. Should the U.S. and China help these nations?
Human Geography of Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal & Sri Lanka Society & Culture Today Nepal s population is mostly Hindu, with the remaining ten percent Buddhist. The Bhote in Bhutan are descendants of Tibetan peoples, and most are Buddhist. Sri Lanka s 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.
Reflection Question 4. How do you think that tourism-an essential economic activity in this region-can be best managed to benefit both residents and the environment?
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.
Reflection Question 5. Native Sherpa guides are hired in order to safely climb Mt. Everest. Many Sherpas have been injured or killed providing mountaineering services to Western climbers. They are paid relatively little for very dangerous work. Do you believe this is fair? Why or why not?
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 clearcutting, 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 Bhutan s 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 Lanka s 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.
Reflection Question 6. There is much controversy about climate change and global warming in the U.S. Some argue that regardless of American action, if China & India do not do their part, it will make no difference. What do you think we should do?