The Chang Pai Shan is the wettest part of northeastern China, blanketed by snow two months out of the year. In Malaysia, hundreds of floral species rare to the tropics thrive at higher altitudes in the cool Cameron Highlands. On the island of New Guinea, the highlands are the tallest and most heavily forested region between the Andes and the Himalayas. Snow-capped summits tower over the tropical jungles, reaching 5000 m in elevation. More than two million people live in the highlands of New Guinea and rely on many forest resources for their survival.
Mountains have an important role even on the flattest continent - Australia.
The region is important for agriculture, forestry and mining. The rivers supply large irrigation and hydroelectric facilities, while national parks and ski areas attract tourists. To the west, clouds and rain are frequent, while parts of the eastern side have some of New Zealand's sunniest weather. This section profiles some of the development issues faced by mountain inhabitants in some of the most spectacular mountain regions in the world. Links to other sites are provided, as is a list of publications for further reading.