CHINA / About Tibet

Tibet Geography

Updated: 2006-08-15 15:24

Located in the southwest frontier of the People's Republic of China,
Tibet Autonomous Region has an area of over 1.2 million square
kilometers., which makes up one-eighth of the total national area, only
second to Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. With the average elevation of
over 4,000 meters, Tibet is the plateau region with the largest space and
the highest sea level in the world, which is dubbed "the World Ridge" and
"the Third Pole on the Globe". Tibet is contiguous to Xinjiang Uygur
autonomous Region and Qinghai Province by the Kunlun and the Tanggula
Mountains on the north, looks at Sichuan Province across the Jinsha River
on the east, is connected with Yunnan Province on the southeast, borders
Burmese, India, Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and Kashmir. With nearly 4,000
kilometers land boundary line, it is China's southwest barrier.

Famous for peculiar geological features, magnificent natural scenery,
splendid ethnic culture and characteristic local customs and practices,
Tibet has become the Holy Land for numerous Chinese and overseas
tourists, mountain explorers and scientific surveyors.

Geographically, Tibet can be divided into three major parts, the east,
north and south. The eastern part is forest region, occupying
approximately one-fourth of the land. Virgin forests run the entire
breadth and length of this part of Tibet. The northern part is open
grassland, where nomads and yak and sheep dwell here. This part occupies
approximately half of Tibet. The southern and central part is
agricultural region, occupying about one-fourth of Tibet's land area.

With all major Tibetan cities and towns such as Lhasa, Shigatse, Gyantse
and Tsetang located in this area, it is considered the cultural center of
Tibet. The total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region is 1,200,000 square
kilometers and its population is 1,890,000. The region is
administratively divided into one municipality and six prefectures. The
municipality is Lhasa, while the six prefectures are Shigatse, Ngari,
Shannan, Chamdo, Nagchu and Nyingchi.

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