Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north of the Himalayas, and home to the indigenous Tibetan people. With an average elevation of 4,900 metres (16,000 ft), it is the highest region on Earth and referred to as the "Roof of the World".

The atmosphere is severely dry 9 months of the year, and average annual snowfall is only 18 inches, due to the rain shadow effect (mountain ranges prevent moisture from the ocean from reaching the plateaus).