Robert, S53R start his activity as 9N7AA from Kathmandu, Nepal.
He will operate on 160 - 10m.
QSL via S56DX direct, LOTW.
Ads for direct QSL:
PAVLA CELARC, OB IGRISCU 8, 1360, VRHNIKA, Slovenia.
Previous activity:
UA3AA will be active from Nepal until 23 May 2014 as 9N7AA.
He is active on HF Bands.
QSL only direct to:
Andy Gromov, 9N7AA, PO Box 873, Brooklyn, NY 11230, USA.
Nepal
Nepal is a state in the southern part of Asia, located at the foot of the Himalayan Mountains, which have no equal in the world in the number of peaks over 8000 meters high. The highest altitude country on the globe bears the name of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, with Kathmandu as its capital. “Himalaya” translates from Nepali as ‘abode of snows’, which succinctly and clearly describes the unique natural system of this area.
Fantastic terrain of Nepal
The unreal picture of nature surrounding the country looks so impressive that, despite the danger, millions of travelers rush here year-round. Silent mountains covered with white blinding snow have been propping up the sky above the heads of the inhabitants for centuries. Almost half of the territory is above the 3000 meter mark, and 6/7 of Nepal's land is mountainous, led by the Great Himalayan Range. 9 out of 10 mountains of the top ten highest peaks in the world are in the Himalayas, and the mountainous area itself covers more than 1 million km2. Nepal shares ownership of the unique place with nine states, two of which border with China and India.
The highest peak of the mountain range is Everest, infamous for accidents with mountain climbers. The majestic peak has several eloquent names - Jomolungma (Tib. “divine mother of life”), Sagarmatha (Nep. - “mother of gods”), Shenmufeng (whale). The better-known name Everest was given to the mountain after the English head of the surveying service, George Everest.
The southern border with India, 20-40 km long, is actually the edge of the Indo-Gangetic lowland, which determines its natural features. The terrain is sandy clay marshy jungle with rare species of trees and shrubs.
The so-called terai (Hindi for “wet land”) are full of small rivers that overflow during the seasonal monsoon. On the northern side of Nepal's border, the terai passes into the lowest foothills of the Himalayan mountains, the Siwalik, which is 500 to 700 meters above sea level. Sivalik consists of seismically active slopes, ravines and valleys. Part of the Sivalik valleys have been developed for tea plantations, which look like artificial terraces on the slopes.
North of the lowest stage of the Himalayas begins the middle foothills, the rocky Mahabharat range, 16 km wide and about 3000 m high. The Lesser Himalayas, with its mountain rivulets, is a dangerous place where floods and mudflows caused by snowmelt and monsoon rains are not uncommon.
The Himalayan range and the Mahabharat are separated by Pahar Khanda, a 600 km2 plain, the landscape of which allows the majority of the population to live in relative comfort. Accordingly, the middle foothills of the ridge pass into the Greater Himalayas, consisting of 1300 mountain peaks.
The face of the Himalayan mountains is difficult to describe in words. The great natural structure with sharp peaks of mountains, bottomless gorges and steep precipices looks very fairy-like. In the east of Nepal, the northern ridge of the Great Himalayas meets the border with the People's Republic of China.
UA3AA/9N7AA Nepal.
The climatic swing of a mountainous country
Thanks to the country's topography, its inhabitants have the opportunity to observe five climatic zones at once. The snow-capped mountains are at the mercy of subarctic and arctic climate with characteristic frosts, icy winds and storms. Below the Himalayas, the high mountain settlements are dominated by a temperate-cold climate with slight frosts: up to -6 oC in winter and up to +20 oC in summer.
In the area where the terai are located, tropical and subtropical climate with perpetual humid or dry heat prevails. Continuous monsoons flood the jungle from May to September, and during this period the air temperature reaches +38 oC.
Dry winters allow representatives of flora and fauna to enjoy weather not lower than +21 oC. The middle plain with the same name with the capital Kathmandu is located in a temperate-tropical climate with monsoon features. Kathmandu's warm summers are characterized by rain and temperatures up to +28 oC and winter thermometer marks up to +20 oC.
Nepal's unique flora and fauna
The nature of the highland country is amazingly diverse, which is not surprising given the close combination of different climatic zones. In the humid jungles one can observe evergreen flora characteristic of the tropics: palm, bamboo, salt and deciduous trees, ferns. The first place in terms of scale and grandeur in the terai is rightfully occupied by the shorea - a giant sal tree.
The tropical climate is favorable for the growth of the most beautiful plantings: Acacia catechu, Dalbergia, Terminalia felted, rhododendron. The fauna of this area is equal to the rare and impressive flora: buffalo, rhinoceros, leopards, tigers, fallow deer and deer roam freely in the wild pastures. Impressively sized trees are beset by monkeys, flying squirrels, Indian flying foxes, and the brown and yellow waters of the rivers are home to crocodiles and freshwater dolphins.
The Mahabharat Range is covered with mixed forests of several species of pines and oaks. Here you can see rare trees such as Kastanopsis, Wallich's shima, Nepalese alder. Gorals, barking deer, bears, serows, mountain goats roam the mountain slopes. From 4000 meters above sea level grow junipers, Himalayan firs and spruces, Nepalese cherry and birch trees, maples.
The nature of Nepal is also rich in representatives of the bird kingdom. In addition to seasonal migratory species, the protected endemic Danfe pheasant, bunting, Himalayan partridge, mountain turkey, and red-billed alpine crow live here permanently.
There are about 40 rare and endangered mammal species in the Himalayan wilderness, including the lesser and red panda, the two-horned kalao, the pangolin lizard, and the tiger python.
Nationalities and language
Nearly 50% of the population speaks Nepali, the Nepali language, but there are more than 125 dialects of Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman groups officially recognized by the state. The population of the country is 29 million people who belong to 60 nationalities and one hundred ethnic groups.
The main national groups are located according to the area of residence: mountainous (Himalayan zone), hilly (Mahabharata chain) and central (Terai, Siwalik). The Himalayan zone is inhabited by Thakalis, Tamangs, Tibetans, Sherpas, the central area is represented by Rai, Limbu, Nevars, Gurungs, Chhetri. The Terai jungle zone is inhabited by the Tharu ethnic group.
Religion, culture and life of mountain dwellers
The mentality of Nepalese people is a complex system of intertwining Indian culture and Buddhism. Representatives of different religions prefer to wear bright national clothes, as well as hundreds of years ago, widely celebrate original religious holidays. The country amazes with the abundance of Hindu and Buddhist temples, monasteries, equally respected by representatives of different faiths.
Nepalis are characterized by calm and friendly disposition, they have never heard of religious disputes, although alternative movements flourish in the country: shamanism, Bon, Sikhism. Nepalis' way of life is agriculture, farming and handicrafts. Due to the extreme popularity of the famous mountains, many locals work in the tourism industry. The main population of Nepal lives very modestly, in villages there is no water supply and often no electricity.
State structure, an interesting flag and a simple coat of arms
Until 2006, the state was ruled by the king, the country was a seemingly unshakable constitutional monarchy. After the civil war in 2008 the country received the status of a secular state and the first president was officially elected. Today, the country is ruled by the first woman in Nepal's history in the highest office, Bidhya Devi Bhandari.
A former vice-chairman of the Communist Party, Bhandari is the commander-in-chief of the army, and the executive branch is represented by a bicameral parliament. Nepal's state system is unitary; the state is a single entity without separating territorial structures.
The flag of Nepal is unusual: the state symbol consists of two triangles of red color, which are Indian signs of victory. On a scarlet background there are images of the moon and the sun, simply and capaciously symbolizing the eternity of the mountainous country. The coat of arms of the state is also laconic, it depicts everything that is dear to Nepalis. Mountains, flowering rhododendrons and three zones of inhabitants: hills, terai and plain. At the bottom of the coat of arms, two hands - male and female - merge in a firm handshake, symbolizing the equality of the sexes.
Attractions in Nepal
Apart from the vivid picture of mountainous nature, Nepal has some truly wonderful places to visit.
The city of Patan. It is an ancient settlement with rich temples where royal rituals and ceremonies took place. The legacy of different religious movements remains in the form of monumental sculptures and bas-reliefs depicting ancient divine beings.
Lumbini Lotus Stupa. The shrine of Buddhists, embodied in a snow-white monumental structure, is said to be the birthplace of the great Buddha.
National Parks. The unique nature of the Himalayan country and preserved holy relics forced the government to take the protected places under official protection. On the territory of parks “Annapurna”, “Chitwan” and “Sagarmatha” you can get acquainted with the flora and fauna of Nepal, perfectly preserved temples and the way of life of rare ethnic groups.
Durbar Square. The center of Kathmandu, where Nepalis have managed to preserve the country's historic cultural heritage sites. Durbar World Heritage Site is a colorful complex of palaces and religious buildings with courtyards, turrets, idols, which literally reeks of the great past of a small mountainous country.
Video Nepal