Srilankan Nature
Evan though Sri Lanka is a small country in size ,biologically most diverse country in Asia. It has been recognised as a biodiversity hot-spot of global importance been one of the few sites of prime importance for the conservation of the world floral and faunal diversity.
Yala National Park
Yala National Park is the most popular Park in sri lanka located in southern tip of the country wich 393 kms away from colombo. It is mainly dominating with tropical thorn forest. It is also associated with coastline and a coral reef .total area of the park is almost 97881 hectares and divided into 5 blocks. But only 2 blocks open for the public and rest of the park designated as a strict nature reserve. Yala park is popular for many types mammals , reptiles and birds. Yala National Park consider as one of the park with high density of leopard compare to it’s size. Sloth bears, eliphants deers ,crocodiles and birds are other animals can be spotted in the park.
Minneriya National Park
Minneriya National park is situated in North Central province in sri lanka near Habarana, 182kms away from colombo. Park is consisting with intermediate forest, bamboo stands, grass and giant trees. One of the ancient tank called Minneriya tank wich made in 3rd century AD by a king called Mahasen is surrounded by the park. The park is popular for wild Eliphants in big herds (150 – 300) gathering to eat young grass at the tank Bank in the months from March to August. Other animals like deers, foxes and some birds can be seen in the park.
Udawalawa National Park
Udawalawa national park is situated about 200 km away from Colombo in Uwa province close to down south of the country. Park is in the dry zone of the country where rains get from south west monsoon in May to September in the year. The predominant ecosystem of the park area is the forest with scattered dry grass lands and thorny shrubs. Park is consisting an area about 30,821 hectares.
Park is popular for small herds of elephants where visitors can have a close observation of their natural habitats. Other animals can see in the park are, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Water buffaloes, Jackals, Wild cats. There are rare opportunities of looking leopards too. Since the park surrounding a huge tank, it is a paradise for crocodiles and Water fowls.
Willpattu National Park
Willpattu national park is the biggest national park in Sri Lanka. The park is situated in Northern western region 200km away from Colombo and 30km away from Anuradhapua in Puttalum Anuradhapura main road. Total area of the park is 131693 hectares. There are hundreds of villus or small natural lakes with press and brackish water as it mention by the name itself.
Horton plain National Park
The Horton plain national park is situated 32 km away from Nuwaraeliya city in central highland of Sri Lanka. Its surrounding forest and adjoining peak wilderness constitute Sri Lanka’s most important catchment area of almost all major rivers. The plains are also of outstanding scenic beauty and conservation importance containing most of the habitats and endemic plants, animals’ representatives of the countries wet and montane zones and also with montane cloud forest surviving in the country.
Main peaches of the park are Thotupola kanda mountain peak (2357m) from north and Kirigalpoththa mountain peak from the west (2389m), Sri Lanka’s 3rd and 2nd highest mountains respectively. The temperature of the area will be varying from 15Co to 25 Co depending with weather condition. Horton plain national park is the only national park where visitors are allowed to work through. You will have to work about 9km lengthy track with scenic beauty surrounding by relaxing environment. On the way visitors can see the little world’s end with a drop of 274m and greater world’s end with drop of 884m which have panoramic view over the down south plain of the country. Then there is sparkling Baker’s fall before the completion of the journey.
Sinharajaya Rain Forest
Sinharaja rain forest is a tropical low land rain forest or tropical wet evergreen forest located in southern province in Sri Lanka. Sinharajaya rain forest is the only remaining virgin rain forest in Sri Lanka and one of the few virgin forests left in the world. It was declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1988, because of the ecological and biodiversity value of the jungle. Average annual rain fall of Sinharajaya forest is 3000 – 6000mm. Annual temperature of the area is 23Co. Total land area covering the forest about 11187 hectares. Starting elevation from 271m up to 1171m from mean sea level.