Tibet

:This article is on historic Tibet. "Tibet" can also refer to the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Geography

:Main article: Geography of Tibet

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tibet is located on the Tibetan Plateau, the world's highest region. Most of the Himalaya mountain range lies within Tibet. Its most famous peak, Mount Everest, is on Nepal's border with Tibet.

Related Topics:
Tibetan Plateau - Himalaya - Mount Everest - Nepal

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The atmosphere is severely dry nine months of the year. Western passes receive small amounts of fresh snow each year but remain traversable year round. Low temperatures are prevalent throughout these western regions, where bleak desolation is unrelieved by any vegetation beyond the size of low bushes, and where wind sweeps unchecked across vast expanses of arid plain. The Indian monsoon exerts some influence on eastern Tibet. Northern Tibet is subject to high temperatures in summer and intense cold in winter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Historic Tibet consists of several regions:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Amdo (a'mdo) in the northeast, incorporated by China into the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan.
• Kham (khams) in the east, part of Sichuan, northern Yunnan and part of Qinghai.
• Western Kham, part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region
• U (dbus), in the center, part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region
• Tsang (gtsang) in the west, part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region

Tibetan cultural influences extend to the neighboring states of Bhutan, Nepal, adjacent regions of India such as Sikkim and Ladakh, and adjacent provinces of China where Tibetan Buddhism is the predominant religion.

Related Topics:
Bhutan - Nepal - Sikkim - Ladakh - Tibetan Buddhism

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Several major rivers have their source in the Tibetan Plateau (mostly in present-day Qinghai Province), including:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Yangtze
• Huang He (Yellow River)
• Indus River
• Mekong
• Brahmaputra
• Ganges