Editing Kathmandu (section)

== Geography ==
Kathmandu is in the northwestern part of the [[Kathmandu Valley]] to the north of the [[Bagmati River]] and covers an area of {{cvt|50.7|km2|1}}. The average elevation is {{convert|1400|m|ft|sigfig=2}} [[Above mean sea level|above sea level]].<ref name="KTM intro">{{cite web |url=http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/Page_Introduction_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623003237/http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/Page_Introduction_1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2012 |title=Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office&nbsp;– Introduction |access-date=14 August 2014 |publisher=Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office}}</ref> The city is bounded by several other municipalities of the Kathmandu valley: south of the Bagmati by [[Lalitpur, Nepal|Lalitpur Metropolitan City]] (Patan), with which it forms one urban area surrounded by a [[Ring Road (Kathmandu)|ring road]], to the southwest by [[Kirtipur]] and to the east by [[Madhyapur Thimi|Madyapur Thimi]]. To the north the urban area extends into several municipalities; [[Nagarjun Municipality|Nagarjun]], [[Tarakeshwar|Tarakeshwor]], [[Tokha]], [[Budhanilkantha]], [[Gokarneshwar|Gokarneshwor]] and [[Kageshwari-Manohara|Kageshwori Manohara]]. However, the urban agglomeration extends well beyond the neighbouring municipalities, e.g. to [[Bhaktapur]], and nearly covers the entire [[Kathmandu Valley]].

{{wide image|Panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley from Swoyambhu hill.jpg|800px|align-cap=center|Panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley from [[Swayambhunath|Swayambhu]]}}
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Kathmandu Metropolitan City
|North     = [[Tokha]] / [[Budhanilkantha]]
|Northeast = [[Gokarneshwor]]
|East      = [[Kageshwari Manohara]]
|Southeast = [[Madhyapur Thimi]]
|South     = ''[[Bagmati river]]''<br />[[Lalitpur, Nepal|Lalitpur]]
|Southwest = [[Kirtipur]]
|West      = [[Nagarjun, Nepal|Nagarjun]]
|Northwest = [[Tarakeshwor]]
}}

Kathmandu is dissected by eight rivers, the main river of the valley, the [[Bagmati River|Bagmati]] and its tributaries, of which the [[Bisnumati River|Bishnumati]], Dhobi Khola, Manohara Khola, Hanumante Khola, and Tukucha Khola are predominant. The mountains from where these rivers originate are in the elevation range of {{convert|1500|-|3000|m|ft}}, and have passes which provide access to and from Kathmandu and its valley.<ref name=facts>{{cite web |url=http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/index.php?cid=2&pr_id=2 |title=Kathmandu Facts |access-date=12 December 2009 |publisher=Kathmandu Metropolitan City Council, Government of Nepal |archive-date=31 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331101811/http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/index.php?cid=2&pr_id=2 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Geography>{{cite web |url=http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/index.php?cid=3&pr_id=3 |title=Geography |access-date=12 December 2009 |publisher=Kathmandu Metropolitan City |archive-date=4 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404081746/http://www.kathmandu.gov.np/index.php?cid=3&pr_id=3 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Shreshta S.H.">{{Cite book |last=Shreshta |title=Nepal in Maps |pages=102–14 |publisher=Educational Publishing House |location=Kathmandu |year=2005 |first=S.H}}</ref> An ancient canal once flowed from Nagarjuna Hill through Balaju to Kathmandu; this canal is now extinct.

The city of Kathmandu and the surrounding valley are in the ''Deciduous Monsoon Forest Zone'' (altitude range of {{convert|1200|-|2100|m|ft}}), one of five vegetation zones defined for Nepal. The dominant tree species in this zone are [[oak]], [[elm]], [[beech]], [[maple]] and others, with [[coniferous]] trees at higher altitude.<ref>Shrestha S.H. p. 35</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:2015-03-08 Swayambhunath, Katmandu, Nepal.jpg| Haphazard settlement seen near Swoyambhu, 2015.
File:Kathmandu, Nepal.JPG|The green, vegetated slopes that surround the Kathmandu metro area (light grey, image centre) include both forest reserves and national parks
File:Kathmandu City during monsoon.jpg|[[Araniko Highway]] connects Kathmandu to Bhaktapur and onwards to the [[Kodari|Chinese border]].
File:Evening view of the mountain range from Patan, Lalitpur.jpg|Northeastern Kathmandu with [[Gaurishankar]] in background.
</gallery>

=== Kathmandu administration ===

Kathmandu and adjacent cities are composed of [[List of neighborhoods of Kathmandu|neighbourhoods]], which are utilized quite extensively and more familiar among locals. However, administratively the city is divided into 32 wards, numbered from 1 to 32. Earlier, there were 35 wards which made it the metropolitan city with the largest number of the wards.

=== Climate ===
{{climate chart
| Kathmandu
|2|19|14.4
|5|21|18.7
|8|25|34.2
|12|28|61.0
|16|29|123.6
|19|29|236.3
|20|28|363.4
|20|29|330.8
|19|28|199.8
|13|27|51.2
|8|24|8.3
|4|20|13.2
|float=right
|clear=none
|units=metric}}
Under [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen's climate classification]], portions of the city with lower elevations (1300-1400m) which is 88 per cent of total have a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Cwa), while portions of the city with higher elevations generally have a [[subtropical highland climate]] (Cwb). In the Kathmandu Valley, which is representative of its valley's climate, the average summer temperature varies from {{convert|28|to|30|C|F}}. The average winter temperature is {{convert|10.1|C|1}}.
Five major climatic regions are found in Nepal. Of these, High hills of Kathmandu Valley including Chandragiri hill is in the ''Warm [[Temperate climate|Temperate Zone]]'' (elevation ranging from {{convert|1200|to|2300|m|ft}}), where the climate is fairly temperate, atypical for the region. This zone is followed by the ''Cool Temperate Zone'' with elevation varying between {{convert|2100|and|3300|m|ft}}.

The city generally has a climate with warm days followed by cool nights and mornings. Unpredictable weather is expected, given that temperatures can drop to {{convert|0|C|F}} or less during the winter.<ref name=onk>{{cite news|title=Kathmandu temperature plummets to freezing point, lowest ever in eight years|url=https://english.onlinekhabar.com/katmandu-temperature-plummets-to-freezing-point-lowest-ever-in-eight-years.html|date=7 January 2018|website=Onlinekhabar|access-date=31 December 2023|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204172103/https://english.onlinekhabar.com/katmandu-temperature-plummets-to-freezing-point-lowest-ever-in-eight-years.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The lowest ever temperature of −3.5&nbsp;°C was recorded in 1978.<ref name=onk/> While snowfall is generally confined to the hills surrounding the city,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://kathmandupost.com/visual-stories/2021/12/29/mountain-districts-hills-around-kathmandu-witness-snowfall|title=Mountain districts, hills around Kathmandu witness snowfall|date=31 December 2023|newspaper=The Kathmandu Post|access-date=31 December 2023|archive-date=31 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231083512/https://kathmandupost.com/visual-stories/2021/12/29/mountain-districts-hills-around-kathmandu-witness-snowfall|url-status=live}}</ref> there have been a few instances of snowfall in city, most notably in 1945 and 2007.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kathmandu gets first snowfall in 63 years|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSB531712/|date=10 August 2007|work=Reuters|access-date=31 December 2023|archive-date=17 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517080545/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSB531712|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rainfall is mostly monsoon-based (about 65% of the total concentrated during the [[monsoon]] months of June to September), and decreases substantially ({{cvt|100|to|200|cm|0}}) from eastern Nepal to western Nepal. The average annual rainfall for the city is around 1400&nbsp;mm (55&nbsp;in).<ref>{{cite web |title=Nepal |website=Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal/Climate |access-date=31 December 2023 |archive-date=31 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231231091634/https://www.britannica.com/place/Nepal/Climate |url-status=live }}</ref> On average [[humidity]] is 75%.<ref name=facts/><ref name=Shrestha>{{Cite book |last=Shreshta |first=Vinod Prasad |title=A Concise Geography of Nepal |pages=24–28 |publisher=Mandal Publications |year=2007 |location=Kathmandu |isbn=978-99946-55-04-5}}</ref><ref name=vista>{{cite web |url=http://www.nepalvista.com/travel/kathmandu-temperature.php |title=Average Temperature and Rainfall of Kathmandu City |work=Nepal Vista |publisher=Nepal Bureau of Standards, Weather Meteorology |access-date=6 November 2009 |archive-date=30 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130200137/http://www.nepalvista.com/travel/kathmandu-temperature.php |url-status=live}}</ref> The chart below is based on data from the Nepal Bureau of Standards & Meteorology, Weather Meteorology for 2005. The chart provides minimum and maximum temperatures during each month. The annual amount of precipitation was {{convert|1124|mm|in}} for 2005, as per monthly data included in the table above.<ref name=vista/> The decade of 2000–2010 saw highly variable and unprecedented precipitation anomalies in Kathmandu. This was mostly due to the annual variation of the southwest monsoon.{{citation needed|date=March 2013}} For example, 2001 recorded only {{cvt|356|mm|0}} of precipitation due to an extraordinarily weak monsoon season. In contrast, 2003 was the wettest year ever in Kathmandu, totaling over {{cvt|2900|mm|0}} of precipitation due to an exceptionally strong monsoon season.
{{Weather box
| location = Kathmandu ([[Tribhuvan International Airport]]), elevation {{convert|1337|m|ft|abbr=on}} (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 27.4
| Feb record high C = 29.2
| Mar record high C = 31.6
| Apr record high C = 35.6
| May record high C = 36.6
| Jun record high C = 35.2
| Jul record high C = 34.6
| Aug record high C = 32.6
| Sep record high C = 33.2
| Oct record high C = 31.9
| Nov record high C = 30.0
| Dec record high C = 25.2
|year record high C = 
| Jan record low C = -3.5
| Feb record low C = -2.4
| Mar record low C = 0.5
| Apr record low C = 3.5
| May record low C = 8.7
| Jun record low C = 11.1
| Jul record low C = 13.1
| Aug record low C = 13.0
| Sep record low C = 11.8
| Oct record low C = 5.8
| Nov record low C = 1.3
| Dec record low C = -1.9
|year record low C = 
|Jan high C = 	19.2
|Feb high C = 	22.1
|Mar high C = 	26.0
|Apr high C = 	28.6
|May high C = 	29.2
|Jun high C = 	29.5
|Jul high C = 	28.7
|Aug high C = 	29.0
|Sep high C = 	28.6
|Oct high C = 	27.2
|Nov high C = 	23.6
|Dec high C = 	20.2
| year high C = 	26.0
|Jan mean C = 	11.0
|Feb mean C = 	13.7
|Mar mean C = 	17.4
|Apr mean C = 	20.5
|May mean C = 	22.7
|Jun mean C = 	24.4
|Jul mean C = 	24.5
|Aug mean C = 	24.6
|Sep mean C = 	23.7
|Oct mean C = 	20.6
|Nov mean C = 	16.0
|Dec mean C = 	12.2
| year mean C = 	19.3
|Jan low C = 	2.8
|Feb low C = 	5.3
|Mar low C = 	8.8
|Apr low C = 	12.3
|May low C = 	16.1
|Jun low C = 	19.3
|Jul low C = 	20.3
|Aug low C = 	20.2
|Sep low C = 	18.8
|Oct low C = 	13.9
|Nov low C = 	8.4
|Dec low C = 	4.2
| year low C = 	12.5
|precipitation colour = green	
|Jan precipitation mm = 	15.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 	23.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 	38.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 	62.9
|May precipitation mm = 	128.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 	241.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 	384.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 	342.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 	207.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 	43.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 	6.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 	7.8
| year precipitation mm = 	
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm	
|Jan precipitation days = 	1.9
|Feb precipitation days = 	2.6
|Mar precipitation days = 	3.9
|Apr precipitation days = 	6.6
|May precipitation days = 	11.9
|Jun precipitation days = 	16.9
|Jul precipitation days = 	23.1
|Aug precipitation days = 	22.7
|Sep precipitation days = 	14.6
|Oct precipitation days = 	3.8
|Nov precipitation days = 	0.5
|Dec precipitation days = 	0.7
|year precipitation days = 	109.4
| Jan humidity = 79
| Feb humidity = 71
| Mar humidity = 61
| Apr humidity = 53
| May humidity = 57
| Jun humidity = 73
| Jul humidity = 81
| Aug humidity = 83
| Sep humidity = 82
| Oct humidity = 79
| Nov humidity = 85
| Dec humidity = 80
|year humidity = 74
| Jan sun = 210
| Feb sun = 209
| Mar sun = 236
| Apr sun = 230
| May sun = 244
| Jun sun = 175
| Jul sun = 130
| Aug sun = 160
| Sep sun = 156
| Oct sun = 233
| Nov sun = 228
| Dec sun = 211
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 6.6
|Febd sun = 7.6
|Mard sun = 7.9
|Aprd sun = 7.1
|Mayd sun = 7.7
|Jund sun = 5.9
|Juld sun = 3.9
|Augd sun = 4.5
|Sepd sun = 5.4
|Octd sun = 6.3
|Novd sun = 7.9
|Decd sun = 6.2
|yeard sun = 6.4
| source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name=WMO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231014221403/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Nepal/CSV/Kathmandu_44454.csv
| archive-date = 14 October 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Nepal/CSV/Kathmandu_44454.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 15 October 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Department of Hydrology and Meteorology,<ref name = DHM>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231014213207/https://nepalindata.com/media/resources/items/13/bANNUAL_EXTREME_TEMPERATURES.pdf
| archive-date = 14 October 2023
| url = https://nepalindata.com/media/resources/items/13/bANNUAL_EXTREME_TEMPERATURES.pdf
| title = Annual Extreme Temperatures
| publisher=Department of Hydrology and Meteorology
| access-date = 15 October 2023}}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (sun 1961–1990, daily sun 1979-1988)<ref name = DWDsun>
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_global/CLIMAT/multi_annual/sunshine_duration/1961_1990.txt
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171017195327/ftp://ftp-cdc.dwd.de/pub/CDC/observations_global/CLIMAT/multi_annual/sunshine_duration/1961_1990.txt
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 2017-10-17
| title = Station 44454 Kathmandu
| work = Global station data 1961–1990—Sunshine Duration
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| access-date = 6 November 2016}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_444540_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Kathmandu (Flugh.) / Nepal
| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
| access-date = September 17, 2016}}
</ref>}}

===Air quality===
[[File:IMG-cbda959226963b8c6bbdaf27da44fabd-V.jpg|thumb|View of pollution in the Kathmandu Valley and mountain range as seen from Champa Devi]]
Air pollution is a major issue in the Kathmandu Valley.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/mar/21/air-pollution-kathmandu-nepal-liveable-smog-paris |title=Has air pollution made Kathmandu unliveable?|last=Lodge |first=Andrew |date=21 March 2014 |work=The Guardian |access-date=4 April 2017 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=12 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212014126/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/mar/21/air-pollution-kathmandu-nepal-liveable-smog-paris |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.iied.org/clearing-air-kathmandu |title=Clearing the air in Kathmandu |date=7 June 2016 |work=International Institute for Environment and Development |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020422/https://www.iied.org/clearing-air-kathmandu |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/topography-blame-worsening-air-pollution/ |title=Topography to blame for worsening air pollution |website=thehimalayantimes.com |access-date=4 April 2017 |date=24 March 2017}}</ref> According to the 2016 World Health Organization's Ambient Air Pollution Database,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/databases/cities/en/ |title=WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database (update 2016) |website=World Health Organization |language=en-GB |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-date=1 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301221905/http://who.int/phe/health_topics/outdoorair/databases/cities/en/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> the annual average [[Particulates#Size, shape and solubility matter|PM2.5]] (particulate matter) concentration in 2013 was 49&nbsp;μg/m<sup>3</sup>, which is 4.9 times higher than recommended by the [[World Health Organization]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/ |title=Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health |website=World Health Organization |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104165807/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/ |title=Ambient (outdoor) air quality and health |website=World Health Organization |language=en-GB |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104165807/http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs313/en/ |url-status=live}}</ref> 

Starting in early 2017, the Government of Nepal and the Embassy of the United States in Kathmandu have monitored and publicly share real-time air quality data. In Nepal and Kathmandu, the annual premature deaths due to air pollution reached 37,399 and 9,943 respectively, according to a Republica news report published on 23 November 2019. This indicates, around a quarter of the total deaths due to air pollution in Nepal are in Kathmandu.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pollution.gov.np/networkOverview |title=Pollution |website=pollution.gov.np |language=en |access-date=4 April 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020534/http://www.pollution.gov.np/networkOverview |archive-date=6 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.global_summary |title=AirNow |website=airnow.gov |access-date=4 April 2017 |archive-date=5 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405170532/https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.global_summary |url-status=live}}</ref>