Sri Lanka nature and animals. Geography of the Republic of Sri Lanka: nature, climate, population, flora and fauna

The island's forests amaze with their power and diversity. Here you can find giant trees reaching 50 meters in height, small but beautiful flowering plants, and numerous vines entwining the trunks and branches of other trees. Among them are many valuable, unique species: sandalwood with delicately fragrant branches, ebony, also called “black” for the color of the wood, rosewood - teak, breadfruit with edible fruits, tree ferns, papaya, mango and many others. But most of all in the forests there are various palm trees, of which in the first place, of course, are coconut trees. Their slender silhouettes, sometimes rising 30-35 meters, are found everywhere on the island.

This plant has long served man in tropical countries. Its nuts are used as food and provide oil used in soap and candle making. Palm leaves are used to cover huts, baskets, mats and brushes are made from them, the wood is used for buildings, and dishes are made from nut shells. Palm fiber is used for weaving ropes and making fabrics.
From other types of palm trees, sweet juice is obtained, which after fermentation becomes an intoxicating drink, starch, sugar, wax and other substances. In ancient times, the leaves of the talipot palm were used to make paper similar to parchment. Ancient manuscripts written on it have survived to this day - more than a thousand years! And the fruits of the cabbage palm are still included in the menu of the island’s residents.

Near Buddhist monasteries there are always groves of banyan trees - the sacred tree of India and Sri Lanka. After all, it was under the banyan tree that two and a half thousand years ago, the founder of Buddhism, Prince Gautama, experienced “enlightenment,” that is, he understood the cause of human suffering and the way to get rid of it. It happened in one of the cities North India. From then on, Gautama took the name Buddha (“Enlightened One”). Every year, millions of pilgrims come to bow to the tree, which has survived to this day.
And in 245 BC, envoys from Sri Lanka turned to the priests guarding the sacred Indian tree with a request to allow them to take one branch of banyan tree to their island so that they too would grow a symbol of true faith. Permission was given, and the cutting of the tree in a golden vessel traveled down the Ganges River and then by sea to Sri Lanka, where it was planted on a hill in the ancient capital of the country - Anuradhapura and watered with sacred water from the Ganges. And the tree took root in the new place and has been blooming and bearing fruit for more than two thousand years. The monks spread its fruits throughout the island, and now there is no Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka that does not have a banyan tree growing near it.

By the way, this tree is a close relative of the well-known indoor ficus. By the way, the ficus family, which is widespread in the Mediterranean, also includes the fig tree, or fig tree, as the Bible calls it. An amazing feature of the banyan tree is its ability to form numerous aerial roots hanging from the branches to the ground. Having taken root in the soil, these roots begin to thicken, turning into powerful additional trunks, reaching a meter in diameter. (The main trunk can sometimes be up to ten meters in diameter.) Gradually the tree turns into a real forest, sometimes occupying an entire hectare and consisting of 600-800 trunks! The largest banyan tree is considered to be a five hundred year old tree in Indian state Andhra Pradesh, resembling a huge green hill measuring two hectares. It is even listed in the Guinness Book of Records. True, such giants have not been recorded in Sri Lanka.
There is a real abundance of animals in the forests of the island: wild elephants and buffalos are found here,
black sloth bears and leopards, jackals and meter-sized bats - flying foxes, as well as many monkeys, flocks of which regularly devastate fields and gardens local residents. There are as many as five species of deer in Sri Lanka, including the largest spotted-skinned axis deer and mouse deer as tall as a hare.
The jungles of Sri Lanka also abound in birds, many of which fly here in winter from the north. But among them there are also permanent residents - these are peacocks, weaver birds, spur partridges and amazingly beautiful Ceylon kingfishers, whose feathers on the back shimmer in all shades of blue.
Dangerous animals are also found here, such as poisonous snakes (including cobras), crocodiles, sometimes growing up to five meters in length, and in coastal sea ​​waters- sharks. The rivers are home to a rare fisherman, similar to a huge eel, up to a meter long. During the dry season, it is able to crawl overland from one body of water to another that has not yet dried up.

And the gecko lizards, common in Sri Lanka, are tamed and kept in houses by residents to combat flies, mosquitoes and mosquitoes.
The fertile climate of the island has excellent conditions for the cultivation of many cultivated plants, and therefore most of Sri Lanka's plains (which occupy four-fifths of the country) have been turned into plantations. Rubber trees such as hevea and cocoa, coconut palms and coffee trees, bananas and citrus fruits grow on them. But the main asset of Sri Lanka is its famous tea, which from old memory is called Ceylon tea. A third of all the tea harvested in the world is grown here, and it provides the lion's share of revenue to the state treasury.

But the nature of the island is famous not only for its richness of flora. In its mountains, on the roads of Sri Lanka, the richest reserves of the best graphite in the world have been found, and “black sands” - the most valuable ore of titanium and zirconium - are mined off the coast. However, first of all, Sri Lanka is known throughout the world for its precious stones. More than forty different types of gems hide its depths: rubies and topazes, amethysts and garnets, tourmalines and alexandrites.

Sri Lanka is famous for its amazing landscapes: snow-white sandy beaches, mighty hills, rich forests and mesmerizing waterfalls. The first protected area appeared in the 3rd century BC, and today there are 3 reserves on the island, 12 national parks and 51 reservations, the list of which includes Mineria, Sinharaja, Bundala, Wilpatu, Wasgamuwa, Udawalawe and Yalla.

Mineria is a national park located near a reservoir in the Polonnaruwa region at a distance of 182 km from Colombo. The park has a huge variety of vegetation and a sufficient amount of water, which creates favorable living conditions for many species of animals. The park has become an ideal habitat for 200 elephants. Sinharaja - unique tropical
forest untouched by civilization. The pristine nature of the forest has become the home of many species of flora and fauna. Trees whose length reaches 50 meters are of great interest. Bundala National Park natural conditions which are ideal for about 20 thousand migratory birds. The sandy area of ​​the park is a place for sea turtles to lay eggs. You can also see elephants, deer, wild buffalo, storks, pelicans, flamingos and waterfowl in the park. Yalla is the largest and oldest national park. The park is home to a huge number of animals and birds. Udawalawe is a national park that is distinguished by a variety of plant species. The park is home to jackals, wild boars, some types of deer, and buffalo. On the shores of the lakes you can see pelicans, herons and other bird species. Vilpatu is a national park, on the territory of which there are still unexplored places where numerous representatives of animals and plants live. Local reservoirs are inhabited by river shrimp and many different species of fish.

Hello, dear readers – seekers of knowledge and truth!

Sri Lanka attracts thousands of travelers. They dream of being there, but once they get there, they don’t want to leave.

What is the reason? In the warm waves Indian Ocean, in an atmosphere entangled in historical mystery and legends, in the unique taste of Ceylon tea or in the impenetrable jungle and its exotic inhabitants?

It is the latter that we want to talk to you about today. Animals of Sri Lanka are one of the riches of the island. They are almost not afraid of people and live very close to them with their usual wild life.

The article below will show how diverse animal world Sri Lankan island, what inhabitants of the land, sea and air are found here. You will find out what unusual animals are found in Sri Lanka and why they are interesting. And if you have long wanted to go on a trip, but are hesitant because of possible dangers, the article will definitely be useful to you - we will tell you whether you should be afraid of dangerous animals.

Diversity of fauna

Sri Lanka can rightfully be called a unique region, because it is home to hundreds of species of animals, birds, butterflies, insects, and marine life.

More than 15 percent of all fauna living here live only here - these are the so-called endemics.

See for yourself this impressive list of animal species diversity:

• mammals – 90 species;
• reptiles – 170;
• amphibians – more than 100;
• birds – 225;
• fish – more than 80;
• beetles - over 3 thousand;
• butterflies - almost 250 species.

Unfortunately, many animals are on the verge of extinction and are listed in the Red Book. These include the famous sloth bear, the Sri Lankan leopard, the Indian sambar deer, and the Sri Lankan elephant.

Animals near us

To see the wildlife in Sri Lanka, you don’t need to specifically look for it – it’s already around. Many animals are so accustomed to people that they practically do not notice them, and at times they live as one big family.

There are also very nimble animals that bask in the rays of people’s love and for this they receive treats directly from their hands. This applies, of course, primarily to monkeys and chipmunks, which are also called palm squirrels.

Palm squirrel

In the immediate vicinity of humans there are a variety of monkeys:

• Purple-faced langurs are endemic and can be identified by their bright red faces;
• gray langurs - they are also called “Hanuman” in honor of the monkey-faced god Hanuman;
• purple langurs;
• loris are small nocturnal animals, the Sri Lankans call them “unahapuluva” in their own way;
• macaques - they wear a red-brown skin with a white spot on the belly, they are locally called “rilavu”.

Both monkeys and squirrels can sometimes be very impudent: there have been cases when they climbed into tourists' bags, took away food, or even stole valuables. This is funny, but you should be more careful with them so as not to become a victim of an exotic “pickpocket”.

Gray langur

Almost all tourist spots offer elephant rides or swimming. Black, gray, brownish, they are everywhere here, because elephants are considered sacred animals in Sri Lanka and India.

Walking down the street during the day, you can see flying foxes sleeping upside down on trees and wires. They are much larger in size than bats, have a reddish color and, when they sleep, are covered with black wings, like cloaks. Although they can be intimidating in appearance, they are not at all scary to people.

flying fox

Also during the day you can meet mongooses - predators similar to large ferrets, geckos, and striped monitor lizards.

Mongoose

Some beaches offer great opportunities to see turtles, touch them, and some lucky ones even get to swim with them.

Turtles on the beaches of Sri Lanka

An entertainment called birdwatching is gaining momentum. In order to see various parrots, herons, cormorants, flamingos and small unknown birds, people buy excursions. However, some birds can be seen and heard completely free of charge, for example, crows, toucans and handsome peacocks.

Flamingo in national park Koumana

Another impressive sight in the “blessed land”, as Sri Lanka translates, is the flight of butterflies. In March-April they migrate, and you can admire all the diversity of these creatures.

And the most frequent guests on human territory are all kinds of insects. Huge beetles, spiders, ants, and cockroaches are found on the streets, in houses and hotel rooms.

Probably, meeting them does not seem desirable to many, but at the same time, all animals do not pose a danger to people. The main rule of communicating with local wildlife is to be careful and try not to touch them, limiting yourself to simple photography, so as not to cause trouble for yourself and the animals themselves.

Animals in the wild

touch wildlife in Sri Lanka you can not only go on a multi-day hike through impassable jungle. For this purpose there are numerous nature protection zones and reserves. These include, for example, the Yala National Park in the province of Uva, the Habarana Nature Reserve near Sigiriya or the Dehiwala Zoo.

Leopard in Yala Park

Wild animals live here in their usual habitat: rare Sri Lankan leopards, of which there are only 600, porcupines, sika deer, wild boars, whole herds of good-natured elephants. But, perhaps, the main curiosity of these open spaces is the Ceylon bear.

He doesn't look at all like the brown bear we're used to. It has a dark color with a light spot on its face, similar to a mask. The mouth of the Ceylon bear is somewhat similar to a trunk - its lips are very mobile, which is why the bears are popularly called “slobbers”.

Ceylon bear

Sloths eat ants and termites, destroying their homes. For this they also received the nickname “anteater bears.” At the same time, they are not capable of causing harm to humans, although no one has yet canceled the precautionary measures.

The immersion into Ceylonese reality will be deeper in the forests. But for such trips you need to prepare thoroughly: wear closed clothes made of thick fabric, waterproof shoes, socks, and a hat.

Sinharaja Rain Forest

The thing is that here, especially during the rainy season, there are snakes: from harmless lashes to life-threatening cobras or Russell's vipers. Here on the trees there are leeches up to five centimeters in size - they are not so much dangerous as they are unpleasant, because the wounds from them take quite a long time to heal. In addition, you can see ticks, spiders, scalapendras, and scorpions, which can frighten you with just their appearance.

But you shouldn’t be afraid of all sorts of “horror stories” - although poisonous animals are found in Sri Lanka, they are far from human habitats. In addition, they themselves try not to catch a person’s eye. If a person does not become a provocateur, animals do not have to defend themselves, so cases of attacks on people are very rare.

If you encounter a snake while traveling, stop and freeze without making any sounds. Then gradually step back, but do not turn your back on the snake.

“Are there crocodiles, sharks, mosquitoes?” - you ask. We will answer: yes, but...

Marsh crocodiles do exist and reach eight meters in length, but they live far from human settlements. So, if you do not deliberately go into the water under prohibitory signs, then you will not be in danger.

There are sharks in the sea too. But these are nurse sharks and reef sharks measuring just over a meter. They are not dangerous to people, and they swim far from the shore.

Nurse shark

The terrible mosquitoes in the form of malaria mosquitoes are also nothing more than an invented fear. IN tourist area The air is treated with repellents in such a way that even ordinary mosquitoes are practically absent.

Conclusion

The fauna of Sri Lanka is beautiful and wonderful. It helps you feel unity with nature, reminding you that we are all brothers. But do not forget that animals are by nature wild creatures who need freedom. Follow the safety rules and you will feel harmony with the surrounding world of this country.

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! May all your journeys be fulfilled. Support the blog - share the article on social networks if you liked it, and let's search for the truth together.

Currently, the beauty, abundance, and charm of the island attract numerous 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 square meters. 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 - the Highlands. The highest point of the island is Mount Pidurutalagala (height 2524 m). The most famous Adam's Peak is 2243 m. Numerous rivers of the country flow from the mountains. Some of the island's rivers are navigable. The most large river The Mahaweli Ganga (335 km) originates near Adam's Peak and flows into the Indian Ocean in eastern Sri Lanka near Trincomalee.

Other rivers are 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 Kalaveva reservoir, built in the 5th century AD. The 212-meter-high Koslanda Brida Vale (“Bridal Veil”) is one of the highest single-spout waterfalls in the world. Babarakanda Waterfall - 241 m. The highest cascade on the island.

The entire coastline is surrounded by 1600 km of beautiful tropical beaches. Thanks to the seasonal rainfall on each of the coasts, parts of the island can always enjoy dry and sunny weather.
The main beaches stretch from Wakkala to Negombo, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara and Beruwela in the west and southwest, and to Bentota, Ahungalle, Hikkaduwa, Dickwella, Tangalle and Hambantota in the south. Cleanest beaches east coast Nilaveli, Kuchaveli, Pasekuda and Arugam Bay - stretch north and south of Trincomalee.

160 km from a truly tropical seaport and the commercial capital of Colombo is located mountain resort Nuwara Eliya (1890 m), where there are cool nights. Here tourists can enjoy freshly picked strawberries and asparagus, as well as warm up 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 world's famous goods come from Sri Lanka. Tea plantations cover about 200,000 hectares, and many aromatic spices also grow in the area, especially around Kandy.

Nature lovers will be delighted by the magnificent nature reserves in mountainous areas countries: the Sinharaja rainforest (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Knuckle mountain range, the montane rainforests of the Horton Valley, breathtaking mountain gorges such as World's End, Haputale and Ella, the cascades of the Diyaluma waterfall, the sixth highest in the world, the most beautiful bay Trincomalee. The foothills of the mountains on the south-eastern side around Ratnapura (City of Gemstones) are rich in magnificent gemstones.

It amazes with its 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 variety of wild animals is amazing - from huge elephants to tiny lorises, all types of tropical and subtropical fruits and more than 500 species of medicinal plants. Rich animal and vegetable world preserved in 13 national parks, as well as in more than a hundred other protected areas. Some of the most accessible game reserves include Yala (Ruhuna), Uda Walawe, Wasgomuwa, Gall Oya, Maduru Oya, Horton Valley, Bundala, Kumana, Weerawila, Kalametiya and Giant Lake.

In the reserves you can see elephants, leopards, bears, wild buffalos, deer, monkeys, wild boars, wild cats, lizards, and giant squirrels. Among the birds you can see are blue magpies, paradise and dark blue flycatchers, yellow-eared bulbuls, orange long-tailed grub-eaters, mountain hawk eagles, falcons, black-necked herons.
The Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage is a unique elephant sanctuary where baby elephants are raised.

Sri Lanka: upcoming tours

In no other country have we seen so many animals as in Sri Lanka. There are not just a lot of them here, there are a lot of them here. 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 the wild in Sri Lanka, not counting nature reserves and zoos.

Chipmunks or palm squirrels

Elusive fugitives. Constantly on the move. The first nights in Sri Lanka, it was unusual for us to sleep, they were rushing so loudly across the roof. At first we thought they were rats, until one morning Slava caught this rodent on a pole with his camera lens.

In the photo: chipmunks in Sri Lanka

Chipmunks deftly run along wires

Stomping on rooftops like elephants

Later, the owner of the guest house explained to us that chipmunks in the house are a good sign. They feed on insects and catch all living creatures so thoroughly that they don’t even need to treat the house with anything. Several times a week the chipmunks came to our guesthouse and put on a show. They jumped along the wires, jumped from one floor to another, ran across the balconies, but did not give in to our hands, no matter how hard we tried to lure them.

• Read:

What are we having for lunch today? Rice again?

Video: Chipmunks of Sri Lanka

Mongooses

We had never seen these predators in person before and at first we even thought they were ferrets. Some giant ferrets. Later they found out who they really were. It is not easy to catch them; they run fast and are afraid of people.

• Currently reading:

Who is there?!

Most often we watched them from the window of our home on the 3rd floor. One day we were lucky and we photographed this animal with a baby. Mongooses, like monkeys, also lived near our house.

Shouting something at a child

Wet mongoose after the rain

Monkeys and monkeys

Where would we be 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 great black monkeys, Sri Lanka is home to common macaques. In Unawatuna, the easiest way to meet them is on the beach. There are a lot of them there and they are already accustomed to people.

Beauty is a terrible force

Flying foxes or flying dogs

These animals should not be confused with bats, since in size and appearance they are completely different.

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During daylight hours, flying foxes sleep. Hanging upside down on tree branches or on wires. As if being 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 and can easily fly over your pool to take a sip of water.

Video: flying dogs

Striped monitor lizards

Where can I order a transfer from the airport?

We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article.

The monitor lizards here are also of impressive size. We first met them when we were walking along the narrow streets where the locals live. When we saw one such huge lizard in the water, we got scared and thought it was a crocodile.

• This is interesting:

And another one of these monitor lizards was walking on the grass, noticing us, he didn’t even run away. They avoid people, but at the same time they are not afraid of human presence.

Some Sri Lankans simply call them “big monitor lizards”. And our French friends called them “Komodo monitor lizards.” Apparently, by analogy with the Indonesian island of Pulau Komodo. In English, monitor lizard is 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 they happen.

Turtles

In Sri Lanka there are many nature reserves, nurseries, and turtle farms. Sri Lankans treat them favorably. And you can touch a large turtle in the sea for free.

• Interesting article:

frogs

We listened to symphonies of frog calls 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 unusual photo sessions. The largest number of elephants is in Pinnawala, where you can watch them bathe in the river.

• Read:

Not only in Hikkaduwa, but also in Kandy, elephants are not uncommon.

You're walking 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 voluntarily in the shade, and in the evening vigilance will not hurt. They turn from cute dogs into predators and will not miss the opportunity to bark at you.

Those dogs that belong to cafes are well-fed


I came to meet the sunset and see off this day

Cats

In almost any nook and cranny you will meet one or two cats along the way. Sri Lankans treat cats coldly and even irritably. They are thrown out of their homes. That's why the cats here are mostly stray and scared.

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 a couple of weeks later she came to our guest house and even allowed us to pet her. We taught her not to be afraid of people and fed her every time she secretly managed to climb up to our floor.

Don't give me milk - let me scream


The unlucky husband of our oral girl

Peacocks

We often heard the sounds of peacocks and could not understand where they were coming from. They thought that the peacock lived in a cage in some hotel nearby. Until one morning we saw this handsome guy 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 a lot of bird species 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?



Lime parrot


Crow or what?

Insects and spiders

There are no insect insects in Sri Lanka. Large and small flying cockroaches, ants, large ones, many mosquitoes, spiders of various sizes. If in expensive hotels carry out cleaning and poison insects, budget guest houses can save on this. In ours, they were saving, apparently, relying on the chipmunks. Therefore, every day we got acquainted with the newly arrived spiders and bugs, and in the kitchen we hid all the food in the refrigerator from the ants.

Such a huge spider has been seen several times. And one day he moved into our room. Slava couldn’t catch him for a week, he was scared to sleep, but then he caught the spider in the bathroom.

And this gilded and harmless-looking baby can jump. When we were filming him, he attacked the lens, Slava almost dropped the camera in surprise.

The fauna of Sri Lanka does not end there. This country has saved many more animals and we have described only what we saw ourselves. Moreover, we didn’t go on a special photo hunt in search of animals, but only took pictures of those we saw by chance. You can also look at other wild animals and birds at the national. I’m sure that if we had stayed a couple more months, this decent list would have doubled in size. After all, we were only in the south of the island, and in another part of the country, other animals probably live.

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka - small island, located 800 km from the equator. The island, called Ceylon by the British, owes its fame to its 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 industries of the country.
The nature of Sri Lanka amazes 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 rainy seasons summer season(rainy season - from May to the end of October). The remaining months are quite dry, so from November to the end of April is the most favorable period for relaxation. The air temperature on the island remains virtually unchanged and all year round equal to 28-30 C. Due to the high humidity, the nature here is luxurious. No matter what time of year you come to Sri Lanka, you will be struck by the feeling of eternal summer and the constant riot of rich colors. The island's fauna is diverse. There are predators here: panthers, leopards, wild cats, lynxes, jackals, bears, monkeys. IN big rivers There are crocodiles up to 8 m long. The world of birds is diverse: pink flamingos, white storks, colorful parrots, bright peacocks. Wildlife 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 coves and bays, the sparkle of a tropical rainbow, crystal clean water, underwater coral gardens, the remains of sunken ships, shallow waters dotted with fish of unprecedented colors.
Capital: Colombo.
Time: Time in winter is 2.5 hours ahead of Moscow, in summer - 1.5 hours.
National characteristics: When going to Sri Lanka, take light cotton clothing and a hat with you. Be sure to stock up on sunscreen and lotion sunburn. There are no strict requirements for clothing in the country, but you should not visit temples in shorts, in clothes with open backs and shoulders, and you should also take off your shoes when entering the temple.
Geography: Island state in the Indian Ocean near south coast India, from which it is separated by the Strait of Manara and Palk Strait. The country's area is 65,610 sq. km. The main topographical feature of Sri Lanka is the mountain range in the central part of the country. The highest point there is Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m). However, the most famous is the majestic Adam's Peak (2243 m). Nearby there are two plains with a cool, healthy climate.
The famous Ceylon tea is grown in the valleys. The country's rivers are short and quite fast. The most long river The Mahaweli Ganga flows into the Indian Ocean near the city of Trincomalee; other rivers include Kelani, Kalu and Aruvi Aru.
Climate:
Sri Lanka is located in the tropical zone and is protected by a powerful mountain range from 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 mountain areas, where it drops to +10 in winter. Best time for swimming on sea ​​resorts southwest coast Sri Lanka lasts from October to April. The western monsoon season is from May to July, with light rain possible in November - December. The average water temperature is 26 degrees C.
Population:
The country's population (1995 estimate) is approximately 18,346,000, with the largest cities: Colombo (615,000), Dehiwala-Mount Lavinya (196,000), Jaffna (129,000), Sri Jayawardanapura (109,000), Kandy ( 104,000 people), Halle (84,000 people). The average population density is about 280 people per sq. km. Ethnic groups: Sinhalese (Sinhalese) - 74%, Tamils ​​(Indian and Sri Lankan) - 18%, Moors (Arabs) - 7%, Burgers (descendants of the Portuguese and Dutch), Malays, Veddas. Average life expectancy (as of 1992): 69 years for men, 74 years for women. Birth rate (per 1000 people) - 21. Death rate (per 1000 people) - 6.
Language:
The official language is Sinhala and has Indo-Arabian roots. English is also accepted in business circles. Almost the entire population speaks English.
The most popular places The Botanical Garden in the suburb of Kandy - Peradeniya is considered a place to visit. It is one of the largest in Asia Botanical Garden with alleys of rare species of palm trees (this is where they are trying to grow the Seychelles palm tree) and a huge number of types of tropical vegetation. The goal of this park is to collect here all the plants that grow in the Indian Ocean region, and this is being successfully accomplished here. National Park Bundala, located 260 kilometers south of Colombo (in general, all distances in Sri Lanka are measured in kilometers from Colombo). It is famous for large colonies of flamingos, storks, and 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, buffalos, jackals and porcupines roam there.
Interestingly, there are only one and a half times fewer wild elephants in little Sri Lanka than in big 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 southeast coast islands. 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 water. At this time, you can observe elephants, deer, buffaloes, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and other animals and birds at close range.
There are also Wasgamuwa and Norton Plains national parks (both 200 km from Colombo), the latter is famous for its endemic species, such as the purple monkey.
There are also several ornithological reserves in Sri Lanka, in particular in the Bundala National Park (260 km) you can see large colonies of waterfowl, and during seasonal migrations even birds arriving 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 Weeravila parks in the south, and the Udawattakele highland park (118 km). Butterfly Peak Park is located on Adams Peak or Mount Sri Pada, at an altitude of 1210 meters. 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). Located in the Western Province, in Colombo District. Population - 672.7 thousand inhabitants (2007), population of Greater Colombo (which also includes big cities Moratuwa, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte - the official capital of the country) - 2250 thousand inhabitants. (2001).
The name of the city comes from the Sinhalese "Kola-amba-thota", meaning "mango harbour". Arab, Chinese, and Roman merchants visited Colombo harbor more than 2,000 years ago. In the 8th century AD. e. The Arabs settled here for a long time, controlling almost all of the maritime trade of the Sinhalese kingdoms. The Portuguese arrived here in the 16th century and changed the city's name 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 Jayawardenepura Kotte.
Colombo today has become one of the major port cities of the Indian Ocean. Although the city is not rich in historical attractions, it still has its own special charm. Business center 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, the majority of hotels, jewelry stores, banks and offices are concentrated. The most interesting are the vast seaside park square Galle Face Green, the old lighthouse and clock tower, the Presidential Palace, the Yami-ul-Affa Mosque, Central Park Victoria, Chinamon Gardens, State University, Vidyalankara Buddhist University, National Museum and Art Gallery. The old trading and colonial quarters of Colombo for the most part have retained their unique flavor with churches, narrow and crooked streets, canals, retail space and small parks. East of the Fort lies " Old city"Pettah, occupied by hundreds of markets, shops, stalls and shacks. South-east of the Fort, the municipal building, the Viharamahadevi park with a memorial column in memory of victims of the 1st World War and numerous Catholic churches.
Churches and temples are the main noteworthy places in the capital - Buddhist monasteries Vaijyaramara, Gotami Vihara, Dipaddutaramaya and others, Hindu - Kochchikade, Kottakhena, Pettah, Bambalappitiya, mosques - Davatagaha, Afar-Jumma, Christian churches of St. Peter, St. Lucia, St. Andrew's, Scottish Presbyterian Church, etc. All this peacefully coexists with each other, only emphasizing the cosmopolitan nature of this ancient city. But still, most of the noteworthy places are located outside the capital.
Other attractions 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. Situated 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.
The lake, which occupies the entire central part of the city, 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 is the main shrine of the country - the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic of Buddha "Dalada Maligawa", allegedly "rescued" from the funeral pyre of 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, decorated 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 venerate the relic, and in August the famous Kandy Esala Perahera festival procession is held in its honor. Also interesting is the small Kandy Museum with collections of historical exhibits and the Udawatakele Sanctuary bird shelter. The Kandy Art Association and Cultural Center, located near the lake, offers good collections of local crafts 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 zones 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 Yu. 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 Pinnawela (27 km from Kandy) there is the Pinnawela state elephant nursery (founded in 1975), where elephant calves left without parents are brought. Here they are taught all the necessary skills from the Sri Lankan point of view (and, naturally, 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 economic work in many areas of life - they cut 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) - one of the written monuments of Buddhism - was created.
Anuradhapura - not only ancient capital country, but also a holy city. This is an old one royal residence founded in IV. BC e. and already in 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 restored a small part of this grandiose complex to its previous form by the middle of the 20th century, but still the majestic ruins of the old city, many of which are still awaiting their restoration, occupy an area of ​​over 60 square meters. km. The grandiose irrigation system with seven reservoirs and a complex system of canals amazes experts even today.
The largest of the monastery complexes of Anuradhapura that has survived to this day is the vihara (monastery) of Abhayagiri (the second largest Buddhist stupa in the world, 122 m), considered one of the 8 holy places of the city. According to legend, the vihara was built on the very spot where the footprint of 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 shoot was brought here from India in III. BC e. The sacred Buddhist dagobas (stupas) Ruwanweliseya, Jetavana, Ruvanaveli, Tuparama and others are considered real masterpieces of ancient architecture due to the skill of the builders and the elegance of the carvings. The dimensions of these structures are comparable only to 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, rising 200 meters above the adjacent plain overgrown with jungle, on the top of which in the V. century. e. A unique royal palace-fortress of King Kassiapa was built. The gallery's frescoes are amazing (only nineteen out of 500 of these unique paintings have survived to this day), the decorative elements that adorned numerous interior spaces this huge palace. Everywhere there are ruins of colossal sculptures, dozens of terraces and staircases carved into the rock, the remains of halls, walls and deep pools, hundreds of square meters of bright, despite their age, frescoes, picturesque rock grotto-gazebos and dozens of other ancient structures that attract thousands here people from all over the world. At the foot of Sigiriya, in the place of the triple ring of ancient defensive ditches and royal baths, lie beautiful “water gardens” - the oldest in Asia. This is also where the Buddhist monastery Mahayana sect, which includes cave temples, meditation halls, flowering gardens and ponds.
12 km. southwest of Sigiriya there is a complex 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. The Devarajalen Cave with the chapel adjoining it outside is dedicated to the god Vishnu; the Maharajalen (“Temple of the Great Kings”) houses a stupa and 11 sculptures of Buddha. The Maha Alut Vihariya ("Great New Temple") contains statues of a sleeping Buddha (9 m high) and a meditating Buddha, surrounded by 13 statues of Buddha in the lotus position and 42 statues of standing Buddha, and the ceiling of the cave is decorated with 1000 images of Buddha in meditation. One of the wonders of Dambulla is considered to be a cave, along the walls of which, framed by unique stone carvings, water flows upward (!!). In the most high point caves, water accumulates and falls down into a golden bowl, and monks in orange togas meditate around - complete surrealism!
North of Dambula lies Mihintale Hill - sacred place for Buddhists of Sri Lanka. Here are the ruins of an ancient temple complex, but these regions 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 residents of the country, but also for followers of all four world religions. At the top of the mountain there 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 here, Christians believe that this is the footprint of St. Thomas. Tens of thousands of believers from all over the world make the climb (extremely tiring, by the way) to touch the sacred imprints with their lips.
It is interesting to visit the remains of an old fort in Trincomalee, one of the centers of trade in the Middle Ages, also famous for its Swami Rock cliff and picturesque surroundings with dozens of coves.
The country is famous for its beautiful beaches, stretching for hundreds of kilometers along the coast of the island. On their basis, many beautiful resorts, as well as independent hotel complexes, have been built - Ahungala, Beruwela, Bentota, Vaduvva, Galle, Induruwa, Kandalama, Kalkudah, Kalutara, Kogalla, Mount Lavinia, Negombo, Hikkaduwa, etc. 180 km. from the capital, at an altitude of 2 thousand meters above sea level, the mountain resort of Nuwara Eliya is located - a land of excellent climate and the “tea capital of the country”, which has long held the title of one of best resorts Asia. Nuwara Eliya has many colonial-style mansions, the Presidential Residence Queens House, beautiful Victoria Park, many historic and modern hotels, a wonderful golf club, a racecourse, Lake Gregory with a trout farm and many recreational opportunities. The world's best black tea is grown on the surrounding mountain slopes, many mountain rivers with waterfalls flow through, and the most high mountain islands - Pidurutalagala. There are many waterfalls in the mountainous part of Sri Lanka; the Nuwara Eliya region is considered to be the record holder for their number.
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