nepal

Nepal is located in eastern Asia, surrounded by Tibet and China to the north and India on the south, east, and west. The landscape is incredibly diverse, ranging from humid, grassy marshlands in the south, and one of the largest mountain ranges in the world, the Himalayas, in the north. The largest city, Kathmandu, is also the country's capital, and is located in central Nepal.

Agriculture contributes to 39 percent of the Nepali economy, but 76 percent of the country's citizens are employed in agriculture. The most common crops are rice, corn, wheat, and sugarcane. However, the overall unemployment and underemployment rate of Nepal is nearly half the working-age population, so many Nepalese travel to India to find work.

Religion is a very important aspect of life in Nepal. Around 76 percent of the population are Hindus, followed by Buddhists and Muslims. Folklore plays a large role in in Nepal, and the tales are frequently acted out through song and dance during the many festivals. Some of these celebrations are religious holidays, such as //Teej//, a fasting festival for Hindu women, and //Dasain//, which takes place after the rice harvest and is meant to renew family and community ties.



[|Terraces cut into the foothills of the Himalayas.] [|Mountain huts made of mud and thatch.] [|Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the world.]