Nepal is a land of extreme contrasts in climate and geography. It has a unique topography ranging from low lands with sub-tropical jungles to arctic conditions in the Himalayan highlands. Within a mere 150 kilometers, the land rises from near sea level in the south to over 8000 meters in the north. This, together with monsoon rainfall along the south facing slopes, has resulted in compacting virtually all climate zones found on the planet into our country. As a result, Nepal has been endowed with a huge diversity of climatic zones providing a home for a host of plants, birds, and animals. Nepal’s National Park system is designed to preserve this amazing natural heritage.