Valleys of Bhutan

The valleys of Bhutan are carved into the Himalaya by Bhutan's rivers, fed by glacial melt and monsoon rains. As Bhutan is landlocked in the mountainous eastern Himalaya, much of its population is concentrated in valleys and lowlands, separated by rugged southward spurs of the Inner Himalaya. Despite modernization and development of transport in Bhutan, including a national highway system, travel from one valley to the next remains difficult. Western valleys are bound to the east by the Black Mountains in central Bhutan, which form a watershed between two major river systems, the Mo Chhu (Sankosh River) and the Drangme Chhu. Central valleys are separated from the east by the Donga Range. The more isolated mountain valleys protect several tiny, distinct cultural and linguistic groups. Reflecting this isolation, most valleys have their own local protector deities.

Throughout the history of Bhutan, its valleys and lowlands were the object of political control. During the emergence of Bhutan as an independent state in the 17th century, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal conquered the western valleys and constructed dzong fortresses to repel invasions from Tibet. His lieutenant, Penlop of Trongsa Mingyur Tenpa, went on to conquer the valleys in central and eastern Bhutan for the new theocratic government. As a result, each major valley contains a dzong fortress.

The dry, plain-like valleys of western and central Bhutan tend to be relatively densely populated and intensely cultivated. The wetter eastern valleys, however, tend to be steeper, narrower ravines, with isolated settlements dug directly into mountainsides. In the western regions, valleys produce barley, potatoes, and dairy in the north, while southern reaches produce bananas, oranges, and rice.

Features
There are valleys of western, eastern and central Bhutan. The dry plain valleys of western and central Bhutan are generally relatively densely populated and intensively cultivated. They are separated by the southern spurs of the Inner Himalayas. The western valleys are connected in the east by the Black Mountains to central Bhutan, forming a watershed between the two major river systems of Mo and Manas. The central valleys to the east are bounded by the Dong Range. It is the western and central valleys that are the basis of the country's agriculture. In the west, dairy products are produced, barley and potatoes are grown, in the south - rice, fruit, bananas, citrus. The eastern valleys are more humid, steeper, with narrow ravines, with isolated settlements, high and deep in the mountains.

Throughout Bhutan's history, its valleys and lowlands have been the subject of political scrutiny. While the emergence of Bhutan as an independent state in the XVI century Shabdrunh Nhvanh Namgyal originally established in the western valleys, which began to build fortetsi- Dzong. Over time, the central and western valleys were captured. A dzong was built in every large valley.

List of valleys of Bhutan
Below is a list of the valleys of Bhutan:

Bumdeling Valley, in Lhuntse, Mongar, and Trashiyangtse Districts
Bumthang Valley, in Bumthang District
Choekhor Valley
Chumbi Valley, China border
Chungdu Valley, in Haa District
Gangtey Valley, in Samtse District
Gayltsa Valley (Gyatsa), Bumthang District
Haa Valley, in Haa District
Jakar Valley (Byakar), in Bumthang District
Lhuentse Valley, in Lhuntse District
Mongar Valley (Shongar), in Mongar District
Paro Valley, in Paro District
Phobjika Valley (Gangteng), in Wangdue Phodrang District
Punakha Valley (Wangdi Punakha), in Punakha and Wangdue Phodrang Districts
Shingkhar Valley, in Zhemgang District
Tang Valley, in Bumthang District
Thimphu Valley, in Thimphu District
Trashiyangtse Valley, in Trashiyangtse District
Trongsa Valley (Choetse), in Trongsa District
Ura Valley, in Bumthang District
Zhemgang Valley, in Zhemgang District