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National Geographic : 1987 Jul
Contents
KathmanduValley Where deities and goods beat well-worn paths amid towering peaks MYTHOLOGY AND GEOLOGY agree that a lake once covered this lovely vale. Legend adds that it was drainedby a god who, with his flaming sword of wisdom, sliced through the encirclingmountains. Whatever the force, thick alluvial soils have nourished rice and other crops for centuries. The valley lies at a moderate 4,400-foot elevation; its latitude is that of the U. S. Gulf coast. Geographywas an ally for growth. Half the year snow blocked Himalayanpassesfor travelers to Tibet. To the south lay the Terai jungle, deadly with malariain summer. Thus tradersoften spent months in Kathmandu waitingfor the seasons to change. About A.D. 300 invaders started a series of dynasties that gave rise to three main city-kingdoms: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur.In 1769 Prithvi Narayan Shah defeated and unified those hitherto quarrelsome kingdoms. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Pashupatinath Religious shrine: Bungamati Scale varies in this perspective view. NGSCARTOGRAPHIC DIVISION DESIGN:NANCYSCHWEICKART RESEARCH:MICHAELNICOLLS,MICKEYEDWARDS PAINTINGBY:CHRISTOPHER A. KLEIN PRODUCTION: VICTORIAA. McANALLEN MAPEDITOR:GUSPLATIS
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