Part 83

Defense -------

Branches: Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Force, Bermuda Reserve Constabulary

Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

======================================================================

@Bhutan ------

Map ---

Location: 27 30 N, 90 30 E -- Southern Asia, between China and India

Flag ----

Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

Geography ---------

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references: Asia

Area: total area: 47,000 sq km land area: 47,000 sq km comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries: total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 70% other: 23%

Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment: current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water natural hazards: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

People ------

Population: 1,822,625 (July 1996 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 600,000