Bhutan is topograhically, historically and culturally divided by east-west and north-south axis. The cold alpine north-west is inhabited by the Ngalops, linguistically akin to Tibetans. The central Bhutan, also cold and mountainous, is dominated by Bumthaps and Khengs, the groups which probably came from Tibet somewhat earlier. Warm and hilly east is the domain of Sharchops, who are linguistically akin to various groups of northern Thailand and Myanmar highlands. In the lowland subtropical southern regions the Lhotshampas (Bhutanese of Nepali descent) are the majority.