About Sri Lanka

Go Wild in Sri Lanka...

About Sri Lanka

Within an area of 432 Km from north to south, and 224 Km from east to west with a coastline of 1,600 Km lies an Eco system of:

Forests

	Tropical wet evergreen (Lowland rain)
	Tropical moist semi-evergreen
	Tropical dry mixed evergreen
	Tropical thorn
	Riverine (gallery)
	Tropical lower montane
	Tropical upper montane

Grasslands - Villus

	Savannahs (Damana and Talawa)
	Wet pathanas (Wet montane grasslands)
	Dry pathanas (Dry montane grasslands)

Coastal and Marine - Mangroves

Salt marshes

Sand dunes and beach

Estuaries

Large deep lagoons

	Mud flats
	Seagrass beds
	Coral reefs
	Shallow lagoons
	Tidal flats

Inland Wetlands - Flood plains

	Swamp forests
	Streams, rivers and torrents
	Ponds and lakes
	Swamps

The highest point of 8,291 ft. is Mt. Pidurutalagala, and the longest river covering a distance of 330 km is the Mahaweli River, which drains 16% of the island’s water. Over 100 distinct river basins draining 59,217 sq. km.

The up and low country is separated by a 300 metre or 1,000 ft. contour. More than 100 waterfalls exceeding a height of 25 ft. can be observed. This excludes slides and rapids.

Protected areas:

	Strict nature reserves
	Nature reserves
	Natural reserves
	Sanctuaries
	Protected wilderness
	Conservation forests
	Forest reserves
	Protected forests

National parks cover 14.5% of the island:

	Wipattu 1,304 Sq. Km
	Ruhuna (Yala) 1,147 Sq. Km
	Maduru Oya 509 Sq. Km
	Wasgamuwa 334 Sq. Km
	Uda Walawe 305 Sq. Km
	Gal Oya 256 Sq. Km
	Lahugala 15 Sq. Km
	Horton Plains
	Bundala
	Lunugamvehera
	Somawathi Chaitya
	Minneriya / Giritale

There is documented evidence throughout history that this island has been abundant with wildlife. It is also stated that Sri Lanka was the first to provide sanctuary to wildlife.

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