Snow leopards live in the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia, typically in alpine and subalpine zones at elevations between 3,000 to 4,500 meters (9,800 to 14,800 feet). Their range spans across 12 countries including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. They prefer rocky, broken terrain such as cliffs, outcrops, and ravines that provide good cover and vantage points for hunting. In the Himalayas, snow leopards live mostly above the tree line, up to 18,000 feet in elevation, but in the northern part of their range, they can be found at lower elevations as well. The climate in their habitat is generally cold and dry, supporting only grasses and small shrubs on steep mountain slopes.