Bumthang

Chukha

Dagana

Gasa

Haa

Lhuntse

Mongar

Paro

Pemagatshel

Punakha

Samdrup Jongkhar

Samtse

Sarpang

Thimphu

Trashigang

Trashiyangtse

Trongsa

Tsirang

Wangdue
Phodrang

Zhemgang

Relief map ofBhutan showing itsdistricts

Themountains of Bhutan are some of the most prominent natural geographic features of the kingdom.

Located on the southern end of theEastern Himalaya,Bhutan has one of the most rugged mountain terrains in the world, whose elevations range from 160 metres (520 ft) to more than 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) above sea level, in some cases within distances of less than 100 kilometres (62 mi) of each other. Bhutan's highest peak, at 7,570 metres (24,840 ft) above sea level, is north-centralGangkhar Puensum,^[1] close to the border with Tibet; the third highest peak,Jomolhari, overlooking theChumbi Valley in the west, is 7,314 metres (23,996 ft) above sea level; nineteen other peaks exceed 7,000 metres (23,000 ft).^[2] Weather is extreme in the mountains: the high peaks have perpetual snow, and the lesser mountains and hewn gorges have high winds all year round, making them barren brown wind tunnels in summer, and frozen wastelands in winter. Theblizzards generated in the north each winter often drift southward into the centralhighlands.

The mountains of Bhutan define its three main geographic zones: theGreat Himalaya, theLower Himalayan Range (or Inner Himalaya), and theSub-Himalayan Range.^[3][4] The snowcapped Great Himalaya in the north ranges from about 5,500 metres (18,000 ft) to peaks of over 7,500 metres (24,600 ft) above sea level, extending along theBhutan-Tibet border. The northern region consists of an arc ofglaciated mountain peaks with an arctic climate at the highest elevations. Watered by snow-fed rivers, alpine valleys in this region provide pasturage for livestock tended by a sparse population of migratory shepherds.^[2] Spur-like mountain ranges of the Lower Himalaya, between 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and 5,500 metres (18,000 ft), run northwest to southeast in western Bhutan, and northeast to southwest in eastern Bhutan.^[5] These mountains, and especially their western valleys, make up the economic and cultural heart of the kingdom, including most of itsdzongs. These mountainous areas are contrasted with the hilly Sub-Himalaya, with elevations of up to 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), and the lowerDuars.^[3] Many lower mountain ranges are composed of coarse granite sandstone, while rocks at the highest elevations consist ofgneiss among upheaved strata of mica and talcose slate. Many ranges are abundant in limestone.^[5]

Bhutan's valleys are carved into the Himalaya by itsrivers, fed by glacial melt and monsoon rains. Much of the Bhutanese population is concentrated in valleys and lowlands, separated by the rugged southward spurs of the Inner Himalaya.^{[2][6][7][8][9]: 72, 84, 91} Despite modernization and development oftransport in Bhutan, including a national highway system, travel from one valley to the next remains difficult.^[10] Western valleys are bound to the east by theBlack Mountains in central Bhutan, which form a watershed between two major river systems, theSankosh River and theDrangme Chhu. Central valleys are separated from the east by the Donga Range.^[2][11][12] The more isolated mountain valleys protect several tiny, distinct cultural andlinguistic groups.^[13]

Bhutan controls several strategic Himalayan mountain passes including routes between Tibet andAssam. These routes, being the only way into the kingdom, along with centuries-old policies ofisolationism, have gained Bhutan the nickname "Mountain Fortress of the Gods." Although the British established a protectorate over Bhutan and occupied its lowlands, the mountainous interior has never been successfully invaded.^[14]

Mountains and valleys dominate the topography ofBhutan.

The mountains of theGreat Himalayas dominate the north of Bhutan, where peaks can easily reach 7,000 metres (23,000 ft). The tallest peaks range, from west to east, along northernHaa,Paro andThimphu Districts; the bulk ofGasa District; northernmostWangdue Phodrang District; and northernBumthang andLhuentse Districts. The highest point in Bhutan isGangkhar Puensum, which has the distinction of being thehighest unclimbed mountain in the world, at 7,570 metres (24,840 ft).^[15] Some massive summits such as Gangkhar Puensum,Kula Kangri, andTongshanjiabu lie in territory disputed among Bhutan andChina. According to Bhutanese claims, these giants should be part ofGasa District. Other peaks of the Great Himalaya, such asMount Jitchu Drake, lie squarely within Gasa.

The Great Himalaya contains most of theglaciers of Bhutan. This region contains the vast majority of Bhutan's 677 glaciers and 2,674glacial lakes and subsidiary lakes, out of which 25 pose a risk ofGLOFs.^[16][17] The vast number of glaciers in Bhutan are classed as "valley" and "mountain glaciers," although significant numbers of "ice apron," and "niche glacier" types also exist.^[18]: F323 Some glacial lakes, such as Thorthormi Lake inLunana Gewog, are not single bodies of water but collections supraglacial ponds.^[19]

TheLower Himalayan Ranges, also called the Inner Himalaya, are southward spurs of theGreat Himalaya, dominating the midsection of Bhutan. The Dongkya Range forms the trijunction of theBhutan-Sikkim-Tibet border, separating Sikkim from theChumbi Valley^[5] TheBlack Mountains in central Bhutan form a watershed between two major river systems, the Mo Chhu and the Drangme Chhu. Peaks in the Black Mountains range between 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) above sea level. Eastern Bhutan is divided by another southward spur, the Donga Range,^[2] whose valleys tend to be steeper ravines.^{[3][9]: 181 [20]}

Unlike the Great Himalaya, there are noglaciers in the Inner Himalayan ranges, though some summits and upper slopes are covered withmoraines.^[21]

TheBlack Mountains, lie to the east of theSankosh River. Midway betweenPunakha andTrongsa, they separate western Bhutan from the ethnolinguistically diverse central regions and the densely populated eastern regions.^{[9]: 119, 181} The Black Mountains themselves spur ramifications to the southwest and southeast, reaching intoTrongsa District.^[3][5]Pele La pass at 3,350 metres (10,990 ft) is historically and modernly the most important pass in the Black Mountains.^{[9]: 84, 90, 152, 160–1}

The isolation of populations in the Black Mountain area has produced great linguistic and ethnic diversity:^{[9]: 181 [20]} it is the home of theLakha,Nyenkha, and'Olekha languages,^[22] representing distantly relatedTibetan andEast Bodish language groups.^[23]

BetweenTrongsa andJakar runs another mountain range, crossed by Yuto La pass (also called Yotong La). Continuing east, there is another ridge betweenJakar and theKuri Chhu valley, crossed by Ura La pass inUra Gewog at 3,600 metres (11,800 ft).^{[9]: 84 [21]}

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Thrumshing La on theLateral Road

The steep Donga Range separatesBumthang andLhuentse Districts and forms the watershed between theRaidāk andManas River systems. Northeastern portions of the Donga are known as Kurtoe (modernKurtoe Gewog, historicalKurtoed Province).Thrumshing La pass, also called Donga Pass, provides the only road access across the Donga Range at 3,787 metres (12,425 ft).^[5][21] The steep Rodang La further north provides non-motor communication, and several southerly passes including Thebong La are used by herders.^{[9]: 84 [21]} At 20,965 feet (6,390 m), a major peak stands over Thrumshing La.^[5][21]

To the east runs another lesser spur of mountains separatingLhuentse andTrashiyangse Valleys.^[9]: 84

To the east of theManas River system, the Tawang Range (also called Kollong)^[5] forms the eastern boundary of Bhutan.^[3] The Tawang Range originates inTibet, to the northeast ofArunachal Pradesh.^[24]

• Extreme points of Bhutan
• Geography of Bhutan
• Valleys of Bhutan

• Mountains of Bhutan
• Lists of mountains by country

• Source attribution
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Dynamic lists