Tibet

Tibet is an area in central Asia. Formerly an independent nation, it was conquered by China in 1959. The Tibetan Plateau is a large, elevated area, sometimes referred to as the "roof of the world", formed by the collision of the Indian and Asian tectonic plates. Most of the Himalaya mountain range lies within Tibet; Mount Everest is on the Tibet-Nepal border. Tibet also borders on Bhutan, Sikkim, India, and Pakistan.

Tibet is a traditional center of Theravada Buddhism. Before the Chinese conquest it was a theocracy led by the Dalai Lama, who now lives in exile and is seen by many Westerners as a spokesman for the Tibetan people.