Animal world of Sri Lanka. Animals we saw on the island in their natural habitat. Animals of Sri Lanka - acquaintance with interesting representatives of the fauna Sri lanka nature and animals
At present, the beauty, abundance, charm of the island attract many tourists. This tropical island is located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, southeast of the coast of India.
The area of the island is 65,525 sq. km., length from north to south 435 km, from west to east 225 km. The main part of the island is occupied by a plain, the height of which rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level. In the center of the island is the Central mountain range - Upland. The highest point of the island is Mount Pidurutalagala (height 2524 m). The most famous peak of Adam is 2243 m. Numerous rivers of the country flow down from the mountains. Some rivers of the island are navigable. The largest river Mahaweli Ganga (335 km) originates near Adam's Peak and flows into the Indian Ocean in the east of Sri Lanka near Trincomalee.
Other rivers Malvanuna Oya - 164 km, Kelani Ganga - 145 km. The only river that does not originate in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant reservoir of Kalaveva, built in the 5th century AD. At 212 meters, Causlanda Bride Vale (“Bridal Veil”) is one of the highest waterfalls in the world with a single jet. Babarakanda waterfall - 241 m. the highest cascade on the island.
1600 km of the most beautiful tropical beaches are belted along the entire coast. Due to the seasonality of the rains on each of the coasts, you can always enjoy dry and sunny weather on part of the island.
The main beaches stretch from Wakkala to Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara and Beruwala in the west and southwest, and to Bentotta, Ahungalle, Hikkaduwa, Dikwella, Tangalle and Hambantota in the south. The cleanest beaches of the east coast of Nilaveli, Kuchaveli, Pasekuda and Arugam Bay - stretch north and south of Trincomalee.
160 km from the truly tropical seaport and commercial capital of Colombo is the mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya (1890 m), where there are cool nights. Here, tourists can enjoy freshly picked strawberries and asparagus, as well as warm themselves by the fire. The resort is located among high mountain ranges and tea plantations. Queen Anne and King George style architecture, charming flower gardens and an 18-hole golf course are reminiscent of British colonial rule. The Hakgala Botanical Gardens are known for their magnificent collections of subtropical flora. The highlands are where some of the famous goods come from Sri Lanka. Tea plantations cover about 200,000 hectares, many aromatic spices also grow in the area, especially around Kandy.
Nature lovers will be delighted by the magnificent nature reserves in the mountainous regions of the country: the Sinharaja rainforest (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Knuckle mountain range, the rain forests of the Horton Valley, breathtaking mountain gorges such as World's End, Haputale and Ella, the cascades of the Diyaluma waterfall, sixth in the world in height, the most beautiful bay of Trincomalee. The foothills of the mountains on the southeast side around Ratnapura (City of Jewels) are rich in magnificent gems.
It strikes with natural abundance: precious and semi-precious stones, all the variety of spices - cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, pepper, 117 species of orchids and 242 species of butterflies, 441 species of birds. The diversity of wild animals is amazing - from huge elephants to tiny lorises, all kinds of tropical and subtropical fruits and more than 500 species of medicinal plants. A rich flora and fauna is preserved in 13 national parks, as well as in more than a hundred other protected areas. Among the most accessible reserves are Yala (Rukhuna), Uda Walawe, Wasgomuwa, Gall Oya, Maduru Oya, Horton Valley, Bundala, Kumana, Viravila, Kalametia and Giant Lake.
In the reserves you can see elephants, leopards, bears, wild buffaloes, deer, monkeys, wild boars, wild cats, lizards, giant squirrels. Among the birds you can see - blue magpies, paradise and dark blue flycatchers, yellow-eared bulbuls, orange long-tailed larvae, mountain hawk eagles, falcons, black-necked herons.
The Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage is a unique elephant sanctuary where baby elephants are raised.
Sri Lanka: Upcoming Tours
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a small island located 800 km from the equator. The island, called Ceylon by the British, owes its fame to excellent tea. The island is also famous for its beautiful beaches, and therefore it is not surprising that tourism has become one of the main sectors of the country's economy.
The nature of Sri Lanka strikes the imagination of every visitor to the island. In a necklace of white reefs, the island looks like a pearl on the blue velvet of the Indian Ocean. The climate on the island is tropical, with monsoon seasons. Almost 95% of all precipitation falls during the rainy summer season (the rainy season is from May to the end of October). The rest of the months are quite dry, so from November to the end of April is the most favorable period for rest. The air temperature on the island practically does not change and is 28-30 C all year round. Because of the high humidity, the nature here is luxurious. Whatever time of the year you get to Sri Lanka, the feeling of eternal summer, the constant riot of rich colors, is amazing. The fauna of the island is diverse. There are predators here: panthers, leopards, wild cats, lynxes, jackals, bears, monkeys. Crocodiles up to 8 m long are found in large rivers. The world of birds is diverse: pink flamingos, white storks, colorful parrots, bright peacocks. Wild animals can be photographed in numerous national parks.
Sri Lanka attracts many tourists with its endless golden coasts with coconut palms leaning towards the water, hidden bays and bays, the brilliance of a tropical rainbow, crystal clear waters, underwater coral gardens, the remains of sunken ships, shallow waters dotted with fish of an unprecedented color.
Capital: Colombo.
Time: Winter time is ahead of Moscow by 2.5 hours, in summer - by 1.5 hours.
National features: If you are going to Sri Lanka, take light cotton clothes and a hat with you. Be sure to stock up on sunscreen and sunburn lotion. There are no strict clothing requirements in the country, but you should not visit the temples in shorts, in clothes with an open back and shoulders, and you should also take off your shoes when entering the temple.
Geography: An island state in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of India, from which it is separated by the Strait of Manar and the Strait of Polk. The area of the country is 65610 sq. km. The main topographic feature of Sri Lanka is the mountain range in the central part of the country. There is the highest point - Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m). However, the majestic Adam's Peak (2243 m) is the most famous. Nearby are two plains with a cool, healthy climate.
The famous Ceylon tea is grown in the valleys. The country's rivers are short and fairly fast. The longest river, the Mahaweli Ganga, flows into the Indian Ocean near the city of Trincomalee; among other rivers, Kelani, Kalu and Aruvi Aru stand out.
Climate:
Sri Lanka is located in the tropical zone and is protected by a powerful mountain range from the northern winds. The climate here is hot, the average annual air temperature in most areas is from +25 to +30 degrees C, with the exception of mountainous areas, where it drops to +10 in winter. The best time for swimming in the seaside resorts of the southwestern coast of Sri Lanka lasts from October to April. Season of the western monsoons - from May to July, in November - December light rains are possible. The water temperature averages 26 degrees C.
Population:
The population of the country (estimated for 1995) is about 18,346,000 people, in the largest cities: Colombo (615,000 people), Dehiwala Mount Lavigna (196,000 people), Jaffna (129,000 people), Sri Jayawardanapura (109,000 people), Kandy ( 104,000 people), Halle (84,000 people). The average population density is about 280 people per sq. km. Ethnic groups: Sinhalese (Singhalese) - 74%, Tamils (Indian and Sri Lankan) - 18%, Moors (Arabs) - 7%, Burgers (descendants of the Portuguese and Dutch), Malays, Veddas. Average life expectancy (for 1992): 69 years - men, 74 years - women. The birth rate (per 1000 people) - 21. The death rate (per 1000 people) - 6.
Language:
The official language is Sinhala, which has Indo-Arabian roots. English is also accepted in business circles. Almost the entire population speaks English.
The most popular places to visit are the Botanical Garden in the suburbs of Kandy - the city of Peradeniya. This is one of the largest botanical gardens in Asia with alleys of rare palm species (they try to grow the Seychellois palm there) and a huge number of tropical vegetation. The task of this park is to collect here all the plants that grow in the Indian Ocean region, and they successfully cope with it. Bundala National Park, located 260 kilometers south of Colombo (in general, all distances in Sri Lanka are measured in kilometers from Colombo). It is known for large colonies of flamingos, storks, pelicans. Udawalawe National Park (170 km from Colombo). This is the southern half of the island, the Ratnapura region, where water meadows alternate with groves of rare trees. Herds of wild elephants and several species of deer, wild boars, buffaloes, jackals and porcupines roam there.
Interestingly, there are only one and a half times less wild elephants in small Sri Lanka than in large India - 6 thousand in Sri Lanka and 9 thousand in India. One of the two largest national parks - Ruhunu or Yalla National Park is located 309 km from Colombo on the southeast coast of the island. A very popular place where one of the main entertainments takes place in the evening, when the heat subsides and the animals of Sri Lanka go to a watering hole. At this time, you can observe elephants, deer, buffaloes, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and other animals and birds at close range.
There are also the national parks of Wasgamuwa and Norton Plains (both located 200 km from Colombo), the latter is famous for its endemics, for example, the purple monkey.
There are also several ornithological reserves in Sri Lanka, in particular, in Bundala National Park (260 km) you can see large colonies of waterfowl, and during seasonal migrations, even birds that arrived from Russia. The most famous inhabitants of Bundala Park are flamingos. Other ornithological reserves in Sri Lanka are: the Kumana reserve in the eastern province, the Kalametya and Viravila parks in the south, and the Udawattakele highland park (118 km.). On Adams Peak or in another way Mount Sri Pada, at an altitude of 1210 meters, Butterfly Peak Park is located. Its inhabitants are millions of butterflies and the ideal time to visit is March-April when the butterflies migrate.
Colombo is the de facto capital of Sri Lanka (seat of government and residence of the president). It is located in the Western Province, in the Colombo district. Population - 672.7 thousand inhabitants (2007), the population of Greater Colombo (which also includes the large cities of Moratuwa, Dehiwala Mount Lavinia and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte - the official capital of the country) - 2250 thousand inhabitants. (2001).
The city's name comes from the Sinhala "Kola-amba-thota", meaning "mango harbour". Arab, Chinese, Roman merchants visited the harbor of Colombo over 2000 years ago. In the 8th century A.D. e. the Arabs settled here for a long time, controlling almost all maritime trade of the Sinhalese kingdoms. The Portuguese arrived here in the 16th century and changed the name of the city in honor of Christopher Columbus. In the next century, the city was captured by the Dutch, and in 1802 Colombo became the capital of the British colony of Ceylon. Since 1948 - the capital of the Dominion of Ceylon, since 1972 - the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. In 1983, the official capital was moved to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.
Colombo today has become one of the major port cities of the Indian Ocean. Although the city is not rich in historical sights, it still has its own special charm. Downtown Colombo is the old western part of the city in the Fort area. Many mansions of colonial architecture of the 18th-20th centuries have been preserved here. and parks, most of the hotels, jewelry stores, banks and offices are concentrated. The most interesting are the vast seaside area - Galle Face Green Park, the old lighthouse and clock tower, the Presidential Palace, the Yami-ul-Affa Mosque, Victoria Central Park, Chinamon Gardens, State University, Vidyalankara Buddhist University, National Museum and Art Gallery . The old shopping and colonial quarters of Colombo for the most part retained their unique flavor with churches, narrow and crooked streets, canals, shopping areas and small parks. East of the Fort lies the "old city" of Pettah, occupied by hundreds of markets, shops, shops and shacks. South-east of the Fort, the city hall, the Viharamahadevi park with a memorial column in memory of the victims of the 1st World War and numerous Catholic churches are of interest.
Churches and temples are the main noteworthy places in the capital - the Buddhist monasteries of Vaijyaramara, Gotami Vihara, Dipaddutaramaya and others, Hindu - Kochchikade, Kottahena, Pettah, Bambalappitiya, mosques - Davatagaha, Afar Jumma, Christian churches of St. Peter, St. Lucia, St. Andrew's, the Scottish Presbyterian Church, etc. All peacefully coexist with each other, only emphasizing the cosmopolitan nature of this ancient city. But still, most noteworthy places are located outside the capital.
Other sights of Sri Lanka
The main attraction of the country is undoubtedly the Kandy Valley surrounded by mountains, 116 km away. from Colombo, the last stronghold of Sri Lankan statehood before the capture of the country by European colonialists. Located among the hills, the city of Kandy, which was the capital of Sri Lanka until 1815, is still considered the cultural and religious center of the country.
Occupying the entire central part of the city, the lake is extremely picturesque, and the city itself is framed by the waters of the Mahaweli Ganga River with shady banks. On the outskirts of Kandy, the main shrine of the country is located - the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha "Dalada Maligawa", allegedly "saved" from the funeral pyre of the Buddha by one of the followers of his teachings, and later brought to Sri Lanka by an Indian princess. The majestically decorated temple contains a small stupa adorned with gold and precious stones, in which seven more stupas are located in succession, the last of which houses the national shrine. Millions of believers come here to bow to the relic, and in August the famous procession of the Kandy Yesala Perahera holiday is held in her honor. Also of interest is the small Kandy Museum with collections of historical exhibits and the Udawatakelle Sanctuary bird shelter. The Kandy Art Association and Cultural Center, located near the lake, offers a good collection of local handicrafts and performances by popular dance groups.
In Peradeniya (a suburb of Kandy) there is the largest Royal Botanical Garden in Asia (founded in 1821) with an area of 67 hectares, with one of the richest collections in the world - there are more than 45 thousand species of plants from the tropical and equatorial belts of the planet, including many exotic plants and even historical trees (for example, the ficus of King Edward VII, the iron tree of the Russian Emperor Nicholas II and the spruce planted by Yuri Gagarin). The garden is divided into several zones, among which the most interesting are the Orchid Zone (more than a thousand species, a special pass is required to access the collection of wild orchids), the Houseplant Zone (more than 750 species), the Palm Grove (about 200 species of palm trees), etc.
In the city of Pinnawala (27 km from Kandy) there is the Pinnawala State Elephant Nursery (founded in 1975), where elephants left without parents are brought. Here they are taught everything necessary in terms of Sri Lankan skills (and, of course, shown to tourists), and then some of them are sent to zoos around the world, while others work in Ceylon. Elephants occupy an important place in the life of the country, as they perform a huge range of chores in many areas of life - they fell wood, transport goods and tourists, participate in all religious ceremonies and traditional performances, so it is not surprising that the Sri Lankans show such respect for these animals. . In Aluvihara there is a temple-cave complex, in which, according to legend, the Pali Canon (Tripitaka) was created - one of the written monuments of Buddhism.
Anuradhapura is not only the ancient capital of the country, but also a holy city. This ancient royal residence was founded in IV. BC e. and already at the time of late antiquity it was widely known throughout the world (by X. it was practically destroyed). Subsequent rulers of the country restored many of the great monuments of Anuradhapura. Restoration work only by the middle of the 20th century restored a small part of this grandiose complex to its former form, but until now the majestic ruins of the old city, many of which are still waiting to be restored, occupy an area of over 60 square meters. km. The grandiose irrigation system with seven reservoirs and a complex system of canals, even today, amazes specialists.
The largest of the monastic complexes of Anuradhapura that have survived to this day is the vihara (monastery) Abhayagiri (the second largest Buddhist stupa in the world, 122 m), which is considered one of the nature of Sri Lanka 8 holy places of the city. According to legend, the vihara was built on the very spot where the footprint of the Buddha was imprinted. In the courtyard of one of the temples, surrounded by a golden fence, stands the sacred Bo tree ("Buddha tree"), the oldest on Earth. Its offshoot was brought here from India in III. BC e. The sacred Buddhist dagobas (stupas) of Ruvanveliseya, Jetavana, Ruvanaveli, Tuparama and others are considered real masterpieces of ancient architecture by the skill of the builders and the elegance of carving. The dimensions of these structures are comparable only to the Egyptian pyramids, which allows us to consider them a real miracle of engineering technology.
Sigiriya ("Lion Mountain") is another majestic monument of the past. This is a lonely remnant mountain, towering 200 meters above the adjacent plain overgrown with jungle, on top of which in V. n. e. A unique royal palace-fortress of King Kassiap was built. The frescoes of the gallery are amazing (only nineteen out of 500 of these unique paintings have survived to this day), decorative elements amazing in terms of workmanship that adorned the numerous interior rooms of this huge palace. Everywhere are the ruins of colossal sculptures, dozens of terraces and stairs carved into the rock, the remains of halls, walls and deep pools, hundreds of square meters of bright, despite their age, frescoes, picturesque rock grottoes-arbors and dozens of other ancient structures that attract thousands of people here. people from all over the world. At the foot of Sigiriya, not in the place of the triple ring of ancient defensive ditches and royal baths, there are beautiful "water gardens" - the oldest in Asia. There is also a Buddhist monastery of the Mahayana sect, which includes cave temples, meditation halls, flowering gardens and ponds.
12 km. southwest of Sigiriya is a complex of cave temples Dambulla (Rangiri Dambullu Wahaya), the oldest of which dates back to I. BC. e. Here, on an area of 20 hectares, at an altitude of 350 meters, there are five large and many small caves with countless Buddha statues and unique wall paintings of the 5th-18th centuries. Devarajalena cave with a chapel adjoining it from the outside are dedicated to the god Vishnu, Maharajalena ("Temple of the Great Kings") keeps a stupa and 11 Buddha sculptures. Maha Alut Vihariya ("Great New Temple") contains statues of a sleeping Buddha (9 m high) and a meditating Buddha, surrounded by 13 statues of the Buddha in the lotus position and 42 statues of the standing Buddha, and the ceiling of the cave is decorated with 1000 images of the Buddha in meditation. One of the wonders of Dambulla is considered to be a cave, along the walls of which, framed by a unique stone carving, water flows up (!!). At the highest point of the cave, water accumulates and falls down into a golden bowl, and monks in orange togas are meditating around - complete surrealism!
To the north of Dambula lies Mihintale Hill - a sacred place for the Buddhists of Sri Lanka. The ruins of an ancient temple complex are located here, but these lands became famous for the fact that from here Buddhism began to spread throughout the island. One of the main attractions of the country is Adams Peak (Sri Pada, Srivan Adipatam, 2243 m.) - a holy mountain not only for the inhabitants of the country, but also for followers of all four world religions. At the top of the mountain is a rock with footprints. Buddhists believe that these are the footprints of Gautam Buddha, Hindus claim that the prints belong to Shiva, Muslims claim that Adam first set foot on earth, Christians believe that this is the footprint of St. Thomas. Tens of thousands of believers from all over the world make an ascent (extremely tiring, by the way) to touch the sacred imprints with their lips.
It is interesting to visit the remains of the old fort in Trincomalee, one of the centers of trade in the Middle Ages, also known for its Swami Rock cliff and picturesque surroundings with dozens of bays.
The country is famous for its beautiful beaches that stretch for hundreds of kilometers along the coast of the island. On their basis, many beautiful resorts were built, as well as independent hotel complexes - Ahungala, Beruwela, Bentota, Vaduvva, Galle, Induruva, Kandalama, Kalkudah, Kalutara, Kogalla, Mount Lavinia, Negombo, Hikkaduwa, etc. 180 km. from the capital, at an altitude of 2 thousand meters above sea level, is the mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya - the land of a wonderful climate and the "tea capital of the country", which has long been titled one of the best resorts in Asia. Nuwara Eliya has many colonial-style mansions, the Queens House Presidential Residence, beautiful Victoria Park, many old and modern hotels, a beautiful golf club, a racetrack, Gregory Lake with a trout farm and many opportunities for recreation. The best black tea in the world is grown on the surrounding mountain slopes, many mountain rivers with waterfalls flow, and the highest mountain of the island, Pidurutalagala, rises nearby. There are many waterfalls in the mountainous part of Sri Lanka, the Nuwara Eliya region is considered here simply as a record holder in terms of their number.
Source -
Sri Lanka is located in South Asia and is an island. The island of Sri Lanka is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and its Bay of Bengal. It is separated from Hindustan by the Gulf of Manar and the Strait of Polk, 50 km wide. so-called. Adam's Bridge - a chain of islands in the Strait of Polk - once completely connected Sri Lanka with the mainland, but, according to the chronicles, it was destroyed by an earthquake around 1481. The island has a length of 350 km, its width is 180 km at its widest, and it has the same dimensions as Tasmania or Ireland.
The state of Sri Lanka is located between 5`54` and 9`52` northern latitude, 800 km. from the equator. The northern and central parts of the island are in the subequatorial, and the southern part in the equatorial zones. The total area is 65610 sq. km, the length from north to south is 445 km, and from west to east 225 km. According to geologists, the island repeatedly rose from the water and sank again. Over the long centuries, the displacement of geological layers, formed hills, mountains and gorges. The main part of the island is occupied by a plain, the height of which rarely exceeds 100 m above sea level.
In fact, the capital is Colombo (the seat of government and the main institutions of the country are located here), while the official suburb of Colombo is Sri Jaya Vardenapura (Jayawardenapura Kotte), where the country's legislative bodies and a number of administrative organizations are located.
Relief of Sri Lanka
In the center of the island is the Central Mountain Range. The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but some peaks rise higher. The highest point of the island - Mount Pidurutalagala has a height of 2524 m, then Kirigalpotta - 2395 m, Totopolakanda - 2357 m. However, the most famous is the majestic Adam's Peak (Sri Pada) - 2243 m.
Many rivers of Sri Lanka flow from these mountains. The largest river Mahaweli Ganga (335 km.) originates near Adam's Peak and flows into the Indian Ocean in the east of Sri Lanka near Trincomalee. Other rivers Malvanuna Oya - 164 km, Kelani Ganga - 145 km. The only river that does not originate in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant reservoir of Kalaveva, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. At 212 meters, Causlanda Bride Vale, "Bridal Veil" is one of the tallest single-jet waterfalls in the world. Babarakanda waterfall - 241 m. the highest cascade on the island.
The east coast of Sri Lanka is hundreds of kilometers of continuous snow-white beaches, a clear turquoise ocean, coral reefs and a huge variety in the plant world. In the northeast, 6-12 km. from Trincomalee Bay, there are two cozy hotels - Club Oceanic and Nilaveli Beach Hotel from which you can visit unique places for diving and snorkeling, daily excursions to the Pigeon coral island are organized. 14% of the island's territory is occupied by national parks, reserves and reservations. The largest of them are Yala National Park (309 km from Colombo), Udawalawe National Park (170 km from Colombo), Wasgamuwa National Park (200 km from Colombo), Wilpatu National Park (176 km from Colombo) and National Bundala Park (260 km from Colombo).
The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is continuous golden beaches, hotels and small towns - such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwala, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns throughout - the blue ocean, golden sand, coconut palms, chic and inexpensive hotels. The capital of Sri Lanka - the city of Colombo, is located in the western part of the island, on the ocean.
Minerals of Sri Lanka
The ancient Precambrian shield, which lies at the base of the Deccan Plateau of Hindustan, continues in the bowels of Sri Lanka. Among its crystalline rocks lie many minerals. The most famous are deposits of high-quality crystalline graphite, in terms of which Sri Lanka ranks first in the world.
Deposits of phosphorites and mica are being developed. In some coastal areas, large areas are occupied by black monazite sands containing rare and radioactive elements. Local residents use laterite for building houses, which is formed during the weathering of crystalline rocks containing aluminum and iron compounds (the latter give laterites a brick-red color). Laterite is easily cut into bricks, which quickly harden when exposed to air.
Sri Lanka is famous for precious stones: rubies, sapphires, topazes, amethysts. As the ancient chronicle "Mahavamsa" testifies, many kings and sultans in other countries adorned their crowns with these stones, mined on the island. Centuries of predatory exploitation has led to the depletion of rich deposits, but the extraction of precious stones still continues.
The country is searching for oil, in the 1970s, Soviet geologists also took part in them. According to experts, there are sedimentary structures on the shelf of Sri Lanka that are promising for oil. Since the 1980s, prospecting work has begun in the shelf zone, for which the State Oil Corporation of Sri Lanka has concluded long-term contracts with companies from the USA and Canada. There is an agreement with the Oil and Natural Gas Commission of India on joint exploration work.
Inland waters of Sri Lanka
Plain rivers are short, mountain rivers have a large hydropower potential. The water in most rivers is warm. The largest rivers are Mahaweli-Ganga, Kelani, Kalu, Aruvi-Aru.
Mahaweli Ganga is the largest river in Sri Lanka. Length 335 km. It originates in the central province. Its basin is the largest in the country, covering almost one-fifth of the island's total area. The river reaches the Bay of Bengal in the northwestern part of the island. Six hydroelectric dams have been built on the river.
Climate of Sri Lanka
The climate in Sri Lanka is subequatorial and equatorial monsoon, highly complicated by the relief and the general orientation of the island from north to south. The average annual temperature on the plains is about +29-31°С (seasonal fluctuations are insignificant), in the mountainous part - from +16°С to +24°С. The sea water temperature is above +25°С all year round.
Humidity is high and almost always stays above 75%. Precipitation falls from 1000 (northern and eastern regions) to 5000 (southwest coast) mm per year. The rainy season is from May to September (southwest monsoon) and from October to April (northeast monsoon), but these periods often have different time frames in different parts of the island.
Flora and fauna of Sri Lanka
The nature of Sri Lanka includes many unique species and is considered one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world. The level of endemism of animals and plants of Sri Lanka is 16% of the entire fauna and 23% of the flowering flora. The flora of Sri Lanka is diverse and has a high degree of endemism. It includes 3,210 species of flowering plants from 1,052 genera. 916 species and 18 genera are endemic to the island. There are 8 types of forests in Sri Lanka.
In the southwest, at the foot of the mountains and on their slopes, in some places, dense moist equatorial forests with a huge variety of vegetation types (ebony, teak, silk tree, fruit trees) have been preserved. Prickly bushes grow along the northwestern and southeastern coasts, sometimes there are mangrove forests and coconut palms.
Fauna. There are 91 species in Sri Lanka, 41 of which are endangered (9 critically endangered). 16 species are endemic to the island, 14 of which are endangered, including the Gubach bear (Melursus ursinus), the endemic Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) and the Sri Luckian elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), as well as the Indian sambar deer (Cervus unicolor). Among the 11 orders, the largest number of species belongs to the order Chiroptera (30 species). In the sea waters surrounding Sri Lanka, there are 26 species of the order Cetaceans.
Sri Lanka is inhabited by: 227 species of birds (previously recorded up to 486 species), 46 of which are endangered (10 in critical condition); 171 species of reptiles are found in Sri Lanka, of which 56 are endangered and endemic to the island (mostly snakes). And the largest species are represented by two crocodiles: Swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and Salted crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).
Sri Lanka is one of the most species-diverse regions in the world for the class Amphibians. It is home to 106 amphibian species, of which 90 are endemic to the island and this is the highest species density for amphibians in the world. 52 species are endangered, almost all of them (except one) are endemic.
There are 82 species of freshwater fish found in Sri Lanka, of which 28 are endangered. Butterflies are represented on the island by 245 species, of which 23 are endemic and are not found anywhere else. 76 species are endangered, especially Pachliopta jophon.
Population of Sri Lanka
Population - 21.3 million (July 2009 estimate). Annual growth - 0.9%. Birth rate - 16.2 per 1000 (fertility - 1.99 births per woman); Mortality - 6.1 per 1000; Emigration - 1.1 per 1000; Infant mortality - 18.5 per 1000; The average life expectancy is 73 years for men, 77 years for women.
Sinhalese make up about 75%, Tamils - about 18% of the population, mainly in the northern and eastern regions. There are also Sri Lankan Moors (larakalla - descendants of Arabs) - about 7%, burghers (descendants from mixed marriages with Europeans) - about 0.3%, Veddas (descendants of the ancient population of the island) - about 1 thousand people.
About 70% of the population (mostly Sinhalese) profess Buddhism, 15% - Hinduism (Tamils), 8% - Christianity, 7% - Islam (Sri Lankan Moors). Literacy - 92% of men, 89% of women (according to the 2001 census).
The official languages are Sinhalese and Tamil, and English is widely spoken. The religious affiliation of the population basically corresponds to the national-ethnic composition: Buddhism is practiced by about 70% (mainly Sinhalese), Hinduism - more than 17% (mainly Tamils), Islam and Christianity - approximately 8% each (Moors, burghers, etc.) . Largest cities: Colombo, Moratuwa, Galle, Trincomalee, Jaffna, Kandy.
Source - http://travellanka.ru/geografia.html
http://ru.wikipedia.org/
http://www.shri-lank.ru/
In no other country have we seen so many animals as in Sri Lanka. There are not just a lot of them, there are a lot of them. And you don't have to go and pay money to zoos or nurseries. We saw animals everywhere in this green country, and they surrounded us every day. Today I will tell you what animals we saw in Sri Lanka in the wild, not counting reserves and zoos.
Chipmunks or palm squirrels
Elusive fugitives. Constantly on the move. The first nights in Sri Lanka were unusual for us to sleep, they rushed so loudly on the roof. At first we thought they were rats, until one morning Slava caught this rodent on a pole in the camera lens.
Pictured: Chipmunks in Sri Lanka 
Chipmunks deftly run along the wires 
Stomp on the roofs like elephants 
Later, the owner of the guesthouse explained to us that chipmunks in the house are a good sign. They feed on insects and catch all living creatures so carefully that they don’t even need to process the house with anything. Several times a week the chipmunks came to our guesthouse and put on a show. They jumped on the wires, jumped from one floor to another, ran across the balconies, but they didn’t fall into our hands, no matter how hard we tried to lure them.
- Read:
What do we have for lunch today? Rice again? 
Video: Chipmunks of Sri Lanka
mongoose
We have never seen these predators live before and at first we even thought they were ferrets. Some giant ferrets. Later found out who they really are. It is not easy to catch them, they run fast and are afraid of people.
- Now they are reading:
Who is there?! 
Most often we watched them from the window of our dwelling on the 3rd floor. Once we were lucky and we photographed this animal with a baby. Mongooses, like monkeys, also lived near our house.
Something screams at the child 
Wet mongoose after rain
Monkeys and marmosets
Where do without them. Exotics came to our area every day and jumped through the trees, surrounding our guesthouse.
- Healthy:
They impressed us so much that we published a separate article
In addition to the big black monkeys, ordinary macaques live in Sri Lanka. In Unawatuna, the easiest way to meet them is on the beach. There are a lot of them and they are already used to people.
Beauty is a terrible force
Flying foxes or flying dogs
These animals should not be confused with bats, since they are completely different in size and appearance.
- Read also:
During daylight hours, flying foxes sleep. They hang upside down from tree branches or wires. As if covered with a blanket. We also saw them only in Sri Lanka and in the city. These giants fly around the city in the evening, they can easily fly over your pool to take a sip of some water.
Video: flying dogs
striped monitor lizards
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - Kiwi Taxi
Ordered a taxi online, paid by card. We were greeted at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You have already talked about your experience In this article.
The monitor lizards here are also of impressive size. We first met them when we walked along the narrow streets where the locals live. Seeing one such huge lizard in the water, we got scared, we thought it was a crocodile.
- This is interesting:
And another one of these monitor lizards was walking on the grass, noticing us, he did not even run away. They bypass people, but at the same time they are not afraid of the human presence.
Some Sri Lankans simply call them "big monitor". And our French friends called them "komodo monitor lizard". Apparently, by analogy with the Indonesian island of Pulau Komodo. In English monitor lizard. Large monitor lizards can be dangerous to humans, so we do not recommend getting close to them.
Video about monitor lizards
geckos
Geckos live in many countries. And in Sri Lanka, of course, too. I won't say that there are a lot of them, but sometimes there are.
Turtles
In Sri Lanka, there are many nature reserves, nurseries, turtle farms. The Sri Lankans treat them favorably. And for free you can touch a big turtle in the sea.
- Interesting article:
frogs
Symphonies from the cries of frogs we listened to regularly. Especially on rainy days. When we lived in Hikkaduwa, the same frog came to our terrace every evening and did not want to leave for a long time.
elephants
In Hikkaduwa, to see an elephant, you just need to go to the beach more often. Wedding ceremonies in Sri Lanka are becoming more popular every year, European newlyweds order an elephant for beautiful and non-standard photo shoots. Most elephants in Pinnawala, where you can watch them bathe in the river.
- Read:
Elephants are not uncommon not only in Hikkaduwa, but also in Kandy.
You walk around the city, and here it is!
Dogs
As in any Asian country, there are plenty of dogs in Sri Lanka. During the day they rest freely in the shade, and in the evening vigilance will not hurt. From cute dogs, they turn into predators and will not miss the opportunity to bark at you.
Those dogs that belong to cafes are well-fed 
Came to meet the sunset and see off this day
cats
In almost any nook and cranny, one or two cats, but you will meet on your way. Sri Lankans treat cats coldly and even irritably. They kick them out of their homes. Therefore, mostly cats here are stray and frightened.
We managed to tame one scared cat that lived near our guesthouse. This cat was given a name - Oralka. She constantly screams until you shut her mouth with food. We fed her on the street, and then after a couple of weeks she herself came to our guest house and even allowed herself to be stroked. We taught her not to be afraid of people and fed her every time she secretly managed to get up to our floor.
Do not drink milk - let me yell 
The unlucky husband of our oralka
Peacocks
Often we heard the sounds of peacocks and could not understand where they came from. They thought that the peacock lives in a cage in some hotel nearby. Until one morning we saw this handsome man on the roof of a neighboring house. I don’t know how they manage to live among people, but the fact remains. Peacocks in Sri Lanka move freely.
Video: wild peacock on the roof
A few more words about birds
There are many varieties of birds in the country. Instead of pigeons and sparrows, some bright and colorful birds fly in Sri Lanka, which we have not seen anywhere else.
Lankan sparrow? 
light green parrot 
Raven what? 
Insects and spiders
There are no insects in Sri Lanka. Large and small flying cockroaches, ants, large, many mosquitoes, spiders of various calibers. If expensive hotels carry out cleanings and poison insects, then budget guest houses can save on this. In our economy, apparently, they hoped for chipmunks. Therefore, every day we got acquainted with the newly arrived spiders and bugs, and in the kitchen we hid all the products from ants in the refrigerator.
Such a huge spider was seen several times. And one day he settled in our room. Slava could not catch him for a week, it was scary to sleep, but then the spider got caught in the bathroom.
And this gilded and harmless-looking baby knows how to jump. When we were shooting him, he attacked the lens. Slava almost dropped the camera out of surprise.
The animal world of Sri Lanka does not end there. This country has stored up many more animals, and we have described only what we ourselves saw. Moreover, we did not specifically go on a photo hunt in search of animals, but only filmed those whom we saw by chance. You can also look at other wild animals and birds in the national. I am sure that if we stayed for a couple more months, this decent list would be replenished twice more. After all, we were only in the south of the island, and in another part of the country, other animals probably live.
Relatively small in size, Sri Lanka has a rich flora and fauna. Not an island, but one big zoo along with a botanical garden.
No wonder this country was recognized by the International Organization for Environmental Protection as one of the 34 points on the planet with the greatest biodiversity. And the Sinharaja rainforest, the country's last natural tropical jungle zone, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A very high proportion of endemic species of plants and animals, for example, all Sri Lankan land crabs (51 species!) Are endemic to the Sri Lankan flora and fauna.
Due to the influence of Buddhism, which calls for the reverence of all living things, Sri Lanka pays great attention to environmental protection. On the territory of the island there are 12 national parks and 52 reserves, occupying 13 percent of the area of Sri Lanka.
The Udawatakelle Wildlife Sanctuary in Kandy is without a doubt the oldest protected area of wildlife. Safari participants traveling through its land can admire 91 species of mammals (including 16 living only in this region). If you are lucky, you will meet the amazing animals of Sri Lanka: elephants, leopards, sloth bears, sambar deer, spotted deer, wild pigs, mouse and barking deer, wild boars, porcupines, anteaters, civets (a type of wild cat), lemurs, giant squirrels , monkeys (including macaques and langurs).
Yala National Park is considered to be the site of the largest concentration of leopards in the world.
The Uda Walawe National Park is known for its huge population of elephants, and in the Minneriya National Park, during the dry season, you can see an amazing sight when herds of elephants gather on the only island of the park where water remains.
Sri Lanka is one of the best places on earth for blue whale watching. Here, tourists can admire sperm whales, killer whales and dolphins, which are regularly encountered during boat trips along the coast of Mirissa (southern coast of the island). And in order to meet the dugong (aquatic mammal of the siren detachment), you have to go to the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka.
Seven varieties of turtles can often be seen on the beaches of the island.
The island is a paradise for bird watchers. 233 species of birds (33 endemic) live here, and in total, taking into account migration, the number of bird species increases to 482.
There are 171 species of reptiles on the island (101 of them, including two species of crocodiles, are found only here), 244 species of butterflies and 120 species of dragonflies.
It can be said that the animals of Sri Lanka are its greatest wealth, perhaps even more valuable than its tea. By the way, a few words about plants.
There are about 3,000 plant species on the island (of which a quarter are flowering); 750 types of medicinal herbs, about 150 types orchids and ferns.
The fruits of Sri Lanka are a separate song! In addition to the pineapples and bananas known to us, pomelo, mango, rambutan, durian, lychee, jackfruit, sapodilla, mangosteen, longan, etc. grow there. Well, it’s very tasty, especially since local pineapples and bananas bear little resemblance to what we we buy in stores.
Due to its unique nature, Sri Lanka is great for ecotourism. Wildlife enthusiasts are advised to visit the Sinharaja tropical rainforest and the Knakles mountain range; the national parks of Yala, Uda Walawe, Bundala, Horton Plains, Mineriya and Kaudula, as well as the Ritigala and Pidurangala mountain peaks.
Materials used in the preparation of the article
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Bureau
