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hey this is sam I am signing in. dylan sign on  Dylan Rainey Tibet is known as the “roof of the world.” Its mountains are the highest in the world. The world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, rises in southern Tibet. Gar, in Western Tibet is the highest town in the world. It is more than 15,000 feet above sea level. Tibet has an area of 471,000 square miles, almost eight times the size of North Carolina. Prior to the Chinese takeover, Tibet covered 965,000 square miles. Much of Tibet receives less than 10 inches of rain annually. Blizzards and snowstorms are common. January temperatures average 24 degrees Fahrenheit. July temperatures average 58 degrees Fahrenheit (World Book Encyclopedia p. 276). From the A.D. 600’s to the 800’s, Tibet ruled a powerful kingdom. Buddhism and writing were introduced from India, and Lhasa was founded. The Dalai Lama became the ruler of Tibet in the 1600’s. in the early 1700’s, Tibet fell under the control of China. Tibet has been apart of China since the 1950’s. However, for much of its history Tibet was an independent or semi-independent state (World Book Encyclopedia p. 277). Tibet has a population of over 2 ½ million people. The majority of the people are Tibetans. Most of the rest are Chinese. The current life expectancy of people in Tibet has increased to 67 from 35.5 in the 1950’s. Most people live in southern Tibet or along the eastern edge of the plateau. About 14,000 people live in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital and largest city. Tibet’s main traditional language is Tibetan Mandarin. Chinese is also an official language of Tibet. Both are taught in schools (World Book Encyclopedia p. 277). Most people in Tibet believe in Tibetan Buddhism. However, there are also other religions: Bon, Islam, and Catholicism. These religions coexist with each other. Tibet Buddhism, also known as Lamaism has a history of more than 1400 years since it was first introduced. Bon is also known as the “Black Religion” since the followers all wear black headwear. Overshadowed by Tibetan Buddhism. Bon is the indigenous religion of Tibet and originated in about the 5th century. Islam and Catholicism are also worshipped in Tibet though the popular Tibetan Buddhism overshadows them (Tibet Trip-Religion). The most important lamas in Tibet are the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. The Dalai Lama is a lineage of religious leaders of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism (Tibet. Levy, Patricia and Bosco, Don. p. 83). Politically, Tibet is an autonomous region in China. In order to understand how Tibet’s government operates, it is necessary to see it as apart of the larger government of China (Tibet. Levy, Patricia and Bosco, Don. p. 29). Lhasa is the capital of Tibet and its largest city. The Flag of Tibet was introduced in 1912 by the 13th Dalai Lama and outlawed by the People’s Republic of China in 1959 (World Book Encyclopedia p. 256). Lhasa, the capital of Tibet has many attractions such as the huge Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and the Norbulingka. they also have wildlife, nature, and exotic culture (Tibet Trip-Travel). Tibet has many exotic foods and many different tastes and choices. They have many ways of transportation. In 1951 people only were on foot or on the backs of animals. Small boats wre used to cross the larger rivers (Britannica Online Encyclopedia). Since the 1950’s a network of roads have been constructed. Many highways to the main city’s have also been constructed. A main railway line from Qinghai to Lhasa opened in 2006 (Tibet Trip-Travel). Tibet’s festivals and clothing reflect its religious traditions. Hello. this is cagle.

Tibet is the highest region in the world with an average elevation of 16,000 feet!!!!!!!

http://en.chinagate.cn/development/2008-08/27/content_16340439.htm

http://www.chinadiscover.net/china-tour/tibetguide/tibet-culture-clothing.htm