Tibet
With an average elevation of over 4,000 m, Tibet is
considered to be the highest region in the world and is often called the
"Roof of the World." This comes as no surprise, especially since
southern Tibet is located in the Himalayas, which contains many of the world's
highest summits. In addition to its incredible heights, Tibet is also one of
the most isolated areas on earth, with most of the people living in elevations
ranging from 1200 m to 5100 m. One of the most famous peaks found in Tibet is
Mount Everest (8848 m), the highest mountain in the world. Tibet with it's
mountains is the source and dividing line of the Asian continent's major
rivers, with the Brahmaputra being the most important. Many of the rivers in
Tibet can be used for hydroelectricity, but this potential hasn't been
developed as of yet.
Tibet lies at the centre of Asia, with an area of 2.5 million square
kilometers. The earth's highest mountains, a vast arid plateau and great river
valleys make up the physical homeland of 6 million Tibetans. It has an average
altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level.
Tibet is comprised of the three provinces of Amdo (now split by China into the
provinces of Qinghai, Gansu & Sichuan), Kham (largely incorporated into the
Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai), and U-Tsang (which, together
with western Kham, is today referred to by China as the Tibet Autonomous
Region)
