Geography of Sikkim: Location, Physiography, Climate, Rivers, Soil, Natural Resources and Population
Sikkim is a small but geographically remarkable state in Northeast India , situated in the Eastern Himalayas. Despite its limited geographical area, the state has an extraordinary diversity of mountains, valleys, glaciers, forests, rivers, vegetation and wildlife. Sikkim is bordered by Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the south . Its strategic location gives it considerable geographical and geopolitical importance. With an area of approximately 7,096 sq km , Sikkim is the second-smallest state of India by area and the least populous state of India . Its capital and principal urban centre is Gangtok . The state is dominated by the Himalayan mountain system and includes some of the highest peaks, deepest valleys, glaciers and mountain passes in India. The most prominent geographical feature is Khangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga) , the third-highest mountain peak in the world and the highest peak associated...