1. Nepal

2. 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

3. Topographical Map

4. Terrace Farming Nepal

5. 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

6. Nepal’s ethnic groups 31 different culture groups & 52 languages

7. 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…

8. Health of Children

9. Hindu Temple Pohkara

10. Hindu Pilgrims Nepal

11. Buddhist Temple Kathmandu

12. 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

13. Prithvi Narayan Shah 18thc Later portrait 19thc Rana’s continue strict cast system, marry into royal family, discriminate against Buddhists, seize monasteries

14. 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

15. 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

16. Red is Maoist /green NC/

17. 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

18. Challenges for 21 st 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

19. 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

20. School & classroom in Nepal

21. A national park in Nepal

22. Nepal