Lhasa (lhä′sá), (“the seat of the gods”), the capital of Tibet (q. v.) and the sacred city of the Buddhists, is situated 12,000 feet above the sea, and is surrounded by mountains ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 feet above that altitude. The resident population is about 20,000 and the city is an important trading as well as ecclesiastical center. See Candler's Unveiling of Lhasa, Hedin's Through Asia and Landon's Opening of Tibet.