Nepal Geography — 100 Most Asked Loksewa Questions with Answers — Loksewa Guide

Introduction

The primary objective of this text is to provide a comprehensive guide for preparing Nepal geography questions that frequently appear in Loksewa examination papers. The focus is on understanding the physical, administrative, economic, and environmental aspects of Nepal's geography, as well as recent changes. Geography is one of the highest-return subjects for Loksewa preparation due to its consistent appearance across various levels of exams.

Main Content

1. Total Area of Nepal: Approximately 1,47,516 square kilometers.
2. Highest Point in Nepal: Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) at 8,848.86 meters, located in Solukhumbu District.
3. Lowest Point in Nepal: Kechana Kalan at approximately 60 meters above sea level in Jhapa District.
4. Number of Peaks Above 8,000 Meters: Eight out of the fourteen world's highest peaks are found in Nepal: Sagarmatha (8,848.86 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,485 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), and Annapurna I (8,091 m).
5. Number of Tributaries of the Koshi River: Seven tributaries: Sunkoshi, Tamakoshi, Dudh Koshi, Indrawati, Likhu, Arun, and Tamor.
6. Length of the Karnali River: Approximately 507 km.
7. Largest Lake in Nepal: Rara Lake at approximately 10.8 square kilometers in Mugu District.
8. Percentage of Terai Region in Nepal's Total Area: Around 17% of Nepal’s total area is covered by the Terai region, which is home to over 50% of the population and is the most densely populated physiographic region.

Key Takeaways

1. The highest point in Nepal is Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) at 8,848.86 meters.
2. The largest protected area in Nepal is Annapurna Conservation Area covering approximately 7,629 square kilometers across multiple districts.
3. Nepal has a total of 12 national parks and 6 conservation areas.
4. The current number of local levels in Nepal includes 753 units.

What to Avoid

1. Confusing the capital city with the provincial capital when referring to Bagmati Province.
2. Misunderstanding the exact boundaries of recent administrative changes, such as Nawalparasi and Rukum districts.
3. Not being familiar with the latest geographical changes like the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh dispute or new conservation areas.

By remembering these key points, students can avoid common mistakes and prepare effectively for their Loksewa geography exams.

FAQ

Q1: What are the five physiographic regions of Nepal from south to north? A1: Terai (60–300 m), Siwalik/Churia Hills (300–1,500 m), Middle Mountains/Mahabharat Range (1,500–2,700 m), High Mountains/High Himalaya (above 4,000 m), and Inner Terai (Bhitri Madhesh) valleys between the Siwalik and Mahabharat ranges. Some classifications list these as Terai, Siwalik, Hill, Mountain, and High Himalaya.

Q2: What is the total area of Nepal? A2: Nepal covers 1,47,516 square kilometers. It stretches approximately 885 km from east to west and varies between 145 km and 241 km from north to south.

Q3: What is the highest point in Nepal? A3: Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) at 8,848.86 meters, as measured by the joint Nepal-China survey of 2020. It lies on the Nepal-China border in Solukhumbu District.

Q4: What is the lowest point in Nepal? A4: Kechana Kalan in Jhapa District, at approximately 60 meters above sea level. This is in the southeastern Terai.

Q5: How many peaks above 8,000 meters are found in Nepal? A5: Eight of the world’s fourteen 8,000-meter peaks are in Nepal: Sagarmatha (8,848.86 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,485 m), Cho Oyu (8,188 m), Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m), and Annapurna I (8,091 m).

Q6: Which are the three major river systems of Nepal? A6: Koshi (eastern), Gandaki/Narayani (central), and Karnali (western). All three originate from the Himalayan region and are tributaries of the Ganges in India.

Q7: Which is the longest river of Nepal? A7: The Karnali River is the longest within Nepal at approximately 507 km. It originates near Lake Mansarovar in Tibet and enters Nepal through Humla District.

Q8: Which is the largest lake of Nepal? A8: Rara Lake in Mugu District is the largest, covering approximately 10.8 square kilometers. It lies at an altitude of 2,990 meters.

Q9: What percentage of Nepal is covered by the Terai region? A9: The Terai covers approximately 17% of Nepal’s total area but is home to over 50% of the population, making it the most densely populated physiographic region.

Q10: What is the Mahabharat Range? A10: The Mahabharat Range (also called the Lesser Himalaya) runs east to west across Nepal at elevations of 1,500 to 2,700 meters. It acts as a climatic barrier, separating the subtropical Terai from the temperate Hill region.

Q11: What are the seven tributaries of the Koshi River (Saptakoshi)? A11: The seven tributaries are Sunkoshi, Tamakoshi, Dudh Koshi, Indrawati, Likhu, Arun, and Tamor. They converge near Triveni in Dhankuta District to form the Saptakoshi.

Q12: Which river is known as the “Sorrow of Bihar” and originates in Nepal? A12: The Koshi River. It frequently changes its course in the Terai flatlands and has caused devastating floods in both Nepal and the Bihar state of India.

Q13: Where does the Gandaki River originate? A13: The Gandaki River system originates from the Nhubine Himal glacier near the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges in Mustang District. It is also called Narayani in the Terai.

Q14: What type of climate does Nepal have? A14: Nepal has a monsoon climate with dramatic variation due to altitude. It ranges from tropical in the Terai, subtropical in the Siwalik, temperate in the Middle Mountains, subalpine in the High Mountains, to arctic/tundra above 5,000 meters.

Q15: Which valley in Nepal is famous for its cold desert-like climate? A15: Upper Mustang (Lo Manthang area) has a rain-shadow cold desert climate because the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges block monsoon moisture from reaching the area.

Q16: What are the Inner Terai valleys (Bhitri Madhesh)? A16: The Inner Terai consists of flat valley floors between the Siwalik and Mahabharat ranges. The main Inner Terai valleys are Chitwan, Dang-Deukhuri, Surkhet, and Udayapur (Triyuga).

Q17: What is the Churia Range? A17: The Churia (Siwalik) Range is the youngest and most fragile mountain range in Nepal, running east to west with elevations of 300 to 1,500 meters. It is composed of sedimentary rock layers deposited during the late Cenozoic era.