The country of Nepal is unique on a number of levels, perhaps the most important being its sheer natural beauty. Home of the world’s highest mountain range and containing eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, Nepal is a magnet for the world’s most avid mountaineers, rock climbers, trekkers, and adventure seekers. Owing to the immense vertical drop from its northern mountains to its southern plains, it is a hotspot for climatic and biological diversity. Naturally, its cultural array mirrors its geological and climatic varieties. Chitwan National Park, a World Heritage Site, whose elevation lies between 100 and 800 meters above sea level, lays claim to more than 500 species of birds, 50 mammals and 55 amphibians and reptiles. Sagarmatha National Park, whose lowest point is approximately 2,800 meters, is home to over 100 species of birds and provides universal scenic views of flora and fauna. Nepal’s biodiversity is not limited to land creatures. It is estimated that the country also has over 250 species of fishes in its vast river systems.
