Sri lanka geography. Geography of the Republic of Sri Lanka: nature, climate, population, flora and fauna
GENERAL INFORMATION.
Figures and facts.
Area- 65610 sq. km Population – 17619000Capital- Colombo (588000)
Another major city- Moratuwa (135,000)
Highest point- Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m)
State languages- Sinhalese, Tamil, English Major religions- Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam Currency unit- Sri Lankan rupeeMain export items- textiles, clothing, tea, precious stones, rubber, coconuts
In the Indian Ocean, near the South Asian subcontinent, the island of Sri Lanka is located. Occupying an area of about 66 thousand square meters. km, it is approximately equal to such large islands as Ireland or Tasmania.
"Lanka" in the ancient Indian Sanskrit language means "country, land". The prefix "sri", which is widespread in South Asia when referring to highly respected people, reflects the great love that the 15 million Sri Lankan people have for their homeland. He calls her "blessed, venerable Lanka."
Sri Lanka's nature is blessed. But it is not only the lush tropical nature that creates the enchanting experience. Sri Lanka is a country of ancient distinctive culture, the history of which dates back to the first millennium BC. Forest thickets hide the ruins of ancient capitals with the remnants of the immortal works of human genius.
For four and a half centuries, the island was ruled by foreign colonialists - Portuguese, Dutch, British. In February 1948, the country achieved independence, turning from a British colony to a dominion. In 1972, a new constitution was adopted and a republic was proclaimed. At the same time, the old name of Ceylon was replaced by a new one - Sri Lanka. Since 1978, the country has been called Democratic Socialist Republic Sri Lanka.
The people of Sri Lanka are on the difficult path of strengthening and developing their national economy.
Sri Lanka plays a significant role in the non-aligned movement, which has embraced about a hundred states of the world and is making an important contribution to the struggle of mankind against the threat of atomic war.
Sri Lanka is part of the British Commonwealth. Area 65.6 thousand sq. km. Population 13.7 million (1976). The capital is Colombo. Administratively, Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces, governed by provincial councils. The provinces are divided into 22 districts.
PAGES OF HISTORY.
Many scholars believe that the first mention of Sri Lanka is in the ancient Indian epic "Ramayana".
The written history of the country begins in the 6th century. BC BC, when natives of North India, led by Prince Vijaya, landed on the island in 543. The Sinhalese chronicle "Mahavamsa" tells about this.
Vijaya was expelled from North India. As the eldest son of one of the rulers, he entered the struggle for power, but was defeated. With his followers, the prince sailed by ship from India and after long wanderings ended up on the island of Lanka. Prince Vijaya named the island by the name of a kind of "Sinhaladvipa", that is, "lion island", and the immigrants from India settled on it began to be called "Sinhalese" - lionlike. The name of Sinhala Island in English was transformed over time into "Silon", which led to the Russian "Ceylon". This is the etymology of the word.
Subsequently, there were several more waves of migration to the island of immigrants from neighboring India. Pushing back into the jungle and mountainous part countries of the Veddas and other local tribes, they settled on a vast, relatively dry plain in the northwestern and eastern parts islands, created there a large center of irrigated agriculture.
In the III century. BC e. Sinhalese ruler Devanampiya Tissa united most of the island into a single state. During his reign, the Sinhalese adopted Buddhism. The penetration of Buddhism had a great influence on the development national culture.
Favorable geographical position The islands contributed to the fact that already in the first centuries of our era, Sri Lanka became one of the major centers of international trade. She traded with India, China and other Asian countries. Numerous cities arose on the coast of the island, where foreign merchants carried on a lively trade. This period is considered the "golden age" of Sri Lankan history.
Internecine feuds and wars led in the 5th century. n. e. to the collapse of the state, which favored the invasion of Tamils from South India. They seized power on the island several times into their own hands. During this period, the country practically fell into decay.
In the second half of the XI century. Sinhala managed to gather forces and began to fight against the Tamils who came from South India, for the unification of the country. This struggle was crowned with success. A new state was created with the capital Polonnaruwa.
Irrigation facilities were created to grow rice. Heavy earthworks for the creation of irrigation facilities were carried out by prisoner-of-war slaves captured during continuous wars, as well as by communal peasants who were forced to carry out work to maintain irrigation facilities. The expansion of artificial irrigation contributed to the further development of agriculture.
At the beginning of the XIII century. the army of the Tamil ruler Magha landed in the north of the island. The invasion of the South Indian conquerors was devastating: cities and irrigation systems were destroyed, cultivated fields were abandoned. As a result of fierce bloody battles, the country was divided between Tamil and Sinhalese rulers.
In the middle of the XIII century. As a result of prolonged wars, the Tamils were pushed back to the northern part of the country - the Jaffna Peninsula and the surrounding areas.
By the beginning of the XVI century. there were about 30 feudal principalities on the island, of which only the Sinhalese kingdoms in Kandy and Kotte were large.
The rich island has always attracted the eyes of conquerors - and not only the rulers of South India, but also such a distant country as China.
The first European colonial power to establish control over part of the island country was Portugal. Her ships appeared off the coast of Sri Lanka in 1505. Too late, the king realized that he had become a vassal of Portugal and as such was forced to pay an annual tribute with cinnamon, sapphires and elephants. Internal unrest on the island made it easier for the conquerors to seize territory and organize trading posts.
The Portuguese laid the core of the future capital of Sri Lanka, whose history also begins in 1505.
At the first stage, i.e. Until the middle of the XVI century. the Portuguese fortified themselves on the island. By the end of the XVI century. they no longer needed the services of local rulers.
Early 17th century in Europe is characterized by a further exacerbation of the struggle for the acquisition of new colonies, especially among countries such as the Netherlands, England and France. The island of Sri Lanka with its bases in Colombo and Trincomalee was valuable as an important strategic hub in ocean roads.
Almost a hundred years after the first appearance of the Portuguese, Dutch ships entered the coastal waters of the island. This was in 1602. They belonged to the Dutch East India Company, which was engaged in trade and colonial conquests in Asia.
Step by step, the Dutch began to oust the Portuguese from the island.
Thus, the history of Sri Lanka is full of dramatic
events. In the 16th century the island became a colony of Portugal, in the 17th century - of the Netherlands, from the 18th to the middle of the 20th centuries. - UK. The country gained independence in 1948, and
proclaimed the former Ceylon a free and sovereign republic.
At the present time, in conditions of an aggravated political situation, an upsurge of the national liberation movement has begun.
In the 80s and 90s, the old contradictions again exacerbated in the country. Tamil Hindus living in the north did not want to obey the Sinhalese Buddhists of the south. The guerrilla war claimed thousands of lives, and many Tamils had to flee to India.
Since 1983, the Sinhalo-Tamil conflict has entered the stage of open armed confrontation. At the same time, a state of emergency was introduced in the country, which continues (with short interruptions) to this day.
POLITICAL SYSTEM.
Sri Lanka is a republic. The current constitution entered into force on May 22, 1972. The head of state is the president, who is also the head of the executive branch and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The term of office of the President is 6 years. The highest legislative body is the one-party parliament - the National State Assembly, whose deputies are elected for 6 years. The government - the Council of Ministers - is headed by the prime minister.
The judicial system includes the Supreme Court. Judges are appointed by the Council of Ministers, members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President.
The official capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, the actual capital is Colombo (800 thousand, 1991).
ECONOMIC AND GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
General characteristics of the economy.
The main role is played by agriculture, where more than 1/3 of the value of the national product is created (in industry - about 1/8). The plantation economy, which developed during the colonial era, forms the basis of the country's modern economy, which continues to be heavily dependent on the external market. In the conditions of independence, a number of state development and reform programs were implemented aimed at transforming agriculture in order to increase food production, expand energy and industrial construction, and strengthen state control over the activities of foreign capital. The state owns railway transport, port facilities, the largest industrial enterprises, power plants and irrigation facilities; a system of state corporations has been created, which manage many industrial enterprises, plantations, and trade institutions. As a result of the nationalization of plantations owned by foreign and local private capital, more than 400 tea, rubber and coconut plantations (with a total area of 160 thousand hectares) came under state control. All plantations with an area of more than 20 hectares have been nationalized. The activity of foreign banks is limited; all monetary transactions in tea trade go through the State Bank of Sri Lanka. Along with the growth of statehood, the positions of the private capitalist sector are preserved and strengthened.
Despite the insular position of Sri Lanka, rail and road links are maintained between it and India. For this, the Adam's Bridge is used - a chain of small islands, coral reefs and shoals that stretch between Sri Lanka and the mainland. The Indian island of Pamban and some of the smaller islets are connected to Hindustan by embankments and bridges, and the Sri Lankan island of Manar is similarly connected to Sri Lanka. Ferries carrying trains and cars run between the terminal railway stations located in Pamban and Manar.
NATURE.
The shores of the island are predominantly low-lying, often lagoon, bordered by coral reefs, slightly indented, with separate bays. Sri Lanka has a rich and vibrant nature. But it has already been significantly changed by man, many natural landscapes have become anthropogenic, some natural resources have been depleted. In order to preserve the fertile nature, measures are being taken to protect it and rationally use it. In different parts of the island, there are nature reserves, sanctuaries, National parks.
Relief.
Over 80% of the territory is occupied by low-lying plains, over which rise individual rocky outliers... In the central and southern parts there is a stepped upland, with leveled surfaces and steep fault benches; the upper tier is formed by table surfaces (the tops of most of the mountains are leveled, therefore they are called table) and steep peaks - Mount Pidurutalagala (2524 m), Adam's peak (2243 m), resembling a huge pyramid in shape, etc.
Sri Lanka is among large islands the globe, but its dimensions are relatively small: the maximum length from north to south is 430 km, from west to east - 225 km. But how diverse, bright and uniquely picturesque the nature of this relatively small country is!
Geological structure and minerals.
Sri Lanka occupies part of the Hindustan shield of the Indian platform, the foundation of which is composed of crystalline schists, quartzites, marbles, etc. Along the coast of the Indian Ocean, coastal-marine Quaternary deposits (pebbles, gravel, sand, clay) are widespread. Main minerals: graphite (with total reserves of 20 million tons), precious and semi-precious minerals (sapphire, ruby, aquamarine, topaz), quartz sand, etc.
Geological history has firmly linked Sri Lanka with the Indian subcontinent. From a geological point of view, the island forms a single whole with the Deccan Plateau, which occupies a significant part of India. In the distant past, the titanic internal forces of the Earth separated its southern part from the continent, forming an island.
The country is looking for oil. According to experts, there are sedimentary structures promising for oil on the shelf of Sri Lanka. Since the 1980s, prospecting work has begun in the shelf zone, for which the State Oil Corporation of Sri Lanka has entered into long-term contracts with companies from the United States and Canada.
Climate
The climate is monsoon, subequatorial in the north and east, equatorial in the south and west. The air temperature on the plains is 26 - 30C, in the mountains it drops to 15 - 20C, changes insignificantly during the year. Sri Lanka is located between 5054 'and 9052' north latitude, that is, not far from the equator. Therefore, there is an even high temperature all year round. In the lowlands, the average annual temperatures are 26-280C, the difference between the average temperatures of the hottest and relatively cool months does not exceed 2-50C. One of the coldest places on the island is the mountain resort Nuwara Eliya, located at an altitude of 2000 m above sea level. This city is called the "particle of the north" on the island. The average annual temperature is around +150 here.
The seasons in Sri Lanka are determined not by changes in temperature conditions, but by differences in rainfall patterns. The greatest number of them falls on the summer, when the moisture-saturated southwestern monsoon winds prevail. The summer monsoon begins in May and fades out in September. At the height of the monsoon period, in June - August, it rains daily, often with heavy showers.
The greatest amount of precipitation (up to 5000 mm per year) falls on the southwestern slopes of the highlands, at the foothills of the mountains - up to 2000 mm per year. The smallest amount of precipitation (less than 1000 mm per year) is on the northwestern and southeastern coasts. In the spring and autumn, abundant convective afternoon rains fall in many areas.
Inland waters.
The river network is dense. Short full-flowing rivers (the largest is the Mahaveli-Ganga - "a river with sandy shores", has a length of 330 km) begin in the central highlands and spread radially in all directions, forming waterfalls in the mountains. Usually the length of rivers is 100 - 150 km.
All rivers are notable for their inconsistent regime. During the rainy season, they rapidly flood, sometimes causing devastating floods. Sri Lankan rivers are of little use for navigation. They are used for irrigation (mainly in the north and east); numerous reservoirs have been built. Small hydroelectric power plants have been built on some rivers.
Soils and vegetation.
The soils are red earth and lateritic, along river valleys and along the coasts there are strips of alluvial soils. Natural vegetation covers about of the island's surface. On the southwestern slopes of the mountains and in some places at the foothills, humid equatorial forests (individual trees reach a height of 80 m) with a huge variety of species have been preserved. The stand includes palms, dipterocarp, etc., forests are distinguished by rich undergrowth, an abundance of mosses. The plains in the north and east of the island and the adjacent highland slopes are covered with secondary deciduous forests (tree height 9-12 m). The plateaus are occupied by savanna-type wastelands (a combination of tall coarse grasses with individual trees), above 2000 m - crooked forests. Along the northwestern and southeastern coasts - thickets of thorny bushes, in some places near the coast - mango forests, coconut trees.
Animal world.
The fauna of Sri Lanka, like the flora, has a lot in common with South India. In the mountain forests of the humid southwest, wild elephants have survived, but as a result of prolonged extermination, their number has decreased. Currently, elephants are protected by the state, hunting for them is prohibited, their livestock began to increase and reached two thousand. The richly and brightly decorated king of the jungle always participates in solemn religious processions and other festivities.
There are predators in Sri Lanka. The local bear is called "sloth" - it has long movable lips like a small trunk.
There are many monkeys in the forests, and often in the trees surrounding the village huts. There are large bats, which resemble large bats - bats, squirrels, foxes. Caught by their paws on the branches of trees, they hang in whole bunches.
Crocodiles up to 8 m long live in large rivers far from villages, so you cannot swim there. There are many poisonous snakes. Of these, cobra and tikpalonga are especially dangerous. The sea and river waters of Sri Lanka are rich in fish, crustaceans, molluscs.
Fauna of the Indo-Malay type, with an admixture of Madagascar species (lemurs). Mammals include elephant, Ceylon bear, leopard, lynx, 5 species of monkeys, deer, wild boars; an abundance of birds (parrots, peacocks, flamingos, storks), many lizards, snakes, crocodiles. Insects are diverse (butterflies, ants, termites, malaria mosquitoes, etc.).
FARMING.
Agriculture.
The agrarian reform of 1977, which provided for the limitation of large land tenure, has not yet substantially changed the nature of land tenure and land use. Much of the land is still concentrated in the hands of relatively large owners, temples and monasteries. The masses of peasants suffer from landlessness and land shortages. Slightly reduced rent for the use of land. Two types of farms prevail: capitalist, mainly plantation farms, widely using hired labor, and small-scale or semi-subsistence peasant farms - tenants or owners. Land lease is widespread. The process of agricultural cooperation has become an important component of the agrarian transformations.
Agriculture uses about 37% of the country's territory (2.4 million hectares), mainly in the wet zone, including 895 thousand hectares of arable land, 1084 thousand hectares of perennial plantation crops, 439 thousand hectares of pastures and meadows. 430 thousand hectares are irrigated. Over 40% of the country's territory (2.9 million hectares) is under forest. The plantation economy, concentrated mainly in the central and southwestern parts of the island, specializes in the production of export crops - tea, rubber, and coconut products. Sri Lanka is second only to India and China in tea collection. Food crops for local needs are grown mainly on peasant farms. The main food crop is rice, which is harvested twice a year. Rice is grown on the island everywhere, but the most favorable for it are loose alluvial soils of river valleys and coastal lowlands. Artificial terraces on mountain slopes are often created for rice fields. Water flows down a channel diverted from the reservoir from the upper terraces to the lower ones, creating constant wetting of the fields. Rice is usually grown year-round. The winter growing season is called maha (large), and the summer season is called yala (small). From the second half of the 70s, the Sri Lankan government began to carry out a program of modernization and intensification of rice farming. In doing so, the Sri Lankan authorities used the useful recommendations of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). As a result of all measures aimed at increasing the harvest of rice, it more than doubled over the years of independence and reached by 1982. 2 million tons. The government sets the task in the coming years to increase the harvest of rice enough to be able to abandon its import and even start exporting in small quantities.
Other food crops include millet, corn, legumes, sweet potatoes, cassava, vegetables, spices (cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom), industrial crops - fibrous and oil crops, and fruit crops - bananas and pineapples.
Livestock raising is underdeveloped; cattle are used more often as a pulling force. To boost this industry, state-owned livestock farms are being organized, and opportunities are being sought to expand the fodder base. There are (1975) 2.5 million head of cattle (including 0.7 million buffaloes), 0.55 million goats. Elephants are also used as working animals. Sri Lanka is dependent on imports of livestock products, and for their per capita consumption it takes one of the last places in the world. In order to expand the fodder base, livestock grazing on coconut plantations is practiced, and the production of concentrated fodder is increasing. Particular attention is paid to the development of dairy and poultry farming, but the results achieved are still small.
More significant achievements in the development of fisheries. During the years of independence, the fish catch in Sri Lanka has grown 6 times. Fishing vessels and equipment are being purchased abroad, port facilities and fish processing enterprises are being built. Fish catch 129 thousand tons (1975). There is a pearl fishery.
Industry.
Sri Lanka's industry continues to be dominated by a multitude of small businesses, including handicrafts; some large enterprises are created mainly in the public sector.
The island is poor in mineral fuel, fuel is imported. Sri Lanka is a supplier of high-quality graphite to the foreign market; rutile, zircon, salt, and precious stones are mined in small quantities. The main source of expansion of the energy base is hydropower. The construction of state hydroelectric power plants is underway.
Traditional manufacturing industries are tea, rubber processing, copra and coconut oil. The enterprises of these industries are located mainly in areas of large plantations. There are rice-cleaning, sugar and other food industry enterprises, as well as textile, footwear and some other light industry enterprises. Heavy industry in its infancy. Among the enterprises of mechanical engineering and metalworking are mainly assembly plants supplying equipment for light industry, transport equipment, agricultural implements, etc. The production of fertilizers, oil refining, and woodworking are expanding. The main industrial center is Colombo and its surroundings. Old traditional crafts (blacksmithing, pottery, weaving) are widespread.
Transport.
Road transport is of prime importance; length of highways over 25 thousand km, railways- about 1.8 thousand km - according to data for 1991. (in 1979, the length of railways was 1.5 thousand km, automobile roads - 21.5 thousand km). Most of the offshore merchant shipping is owned by British companies; and its own fleet is being created. The total cargo turnover of the ports is Colombo (through which up to 90% of imports and over ½ of Sri Lanka's exports are carried out), Galle, Trincomalee - about 5 million tons. Colombo is of international importance as an air traffic hub.
POPULATION
People and culture.
70% of the population are Sinhalese, 20% are Tamils. Sinhalese (9.8 million people; 1975) inhabit the western, central and southern regions countries. official languages- Sinhalese, Tamil and English. Tamils (2.6 million people) make up 2 separate branches: Sri Lankan (in the northern and eastern regions) and Indian (in central regions). They speak Tamil. Small peoples of mixed origin include the Ceylon Moors (854 thousand people), the burghers of Ceylon (44 thousand people), and the Malays (42 thousand people). The Veddas are the descendants of the most ancient population. By religious affiliation, about 67% of the population (Sinhalese) are Buddhists, over 17.5% (Tamils) are Hindus, 7% (Moors, Malays) are Muslims, 7% (burghers, part of Tamils, etc.) are Christians, mainly Catholics ... Natural population growth (2.2% per year, 1970-1974) is due to the high birth rate and a significant decrease in mortality. At the end of the XIX beginning of the XX centuries. immigration from India played a significant role in the increase in the population. In 1965. the state policy of restricting the birth rate was proclaimed. On average, the number of births per 1000 inhabitants was 38 in the mid 40s, and about 27 in the early 80s. The preservation of a sufficiently high birth rate is associated with the historical, ethnic and religious traditions inherent in the South Asian peoples. They are characterized by early marriage of young people and the custom of having many children. At the same time, as can be seen from the figures above, the birth rate in Sri Lanka is declining. In addition to the policy pursued by the government, this is also associated with the involvement of more women in social production, the spread of the urban lifestyle. These changes are manifested in different ways among different national groups. The greatest decrease in the birth rate is among the Sinhalese, some of whose families have begun to deliberately limit the number of children (following the state policy of "family planning"). Higher, unchanging fertility rates persist in Tamil families and in some Muslim groups.
51.3% (1971) of the population are men. In the population of modern Sri Lanka, a large proportion - over 1/3 - are children. The able-bodied population aged 15 to 64 is about 60%. Older persons form a small group - about 5% of the population. In 1971. 40.6% of the economically active population was employed in agriculture, these are mainly peasants and plantation agricultural workers. The average population density is over 200 people per 1 sq. km (on some coastal islands it reaches 400 people). The urban population is 22.4% (1971). The most important cities: Colombo (607 thousand people), Jaffna, Kandy, Galle, Moratuwa.
According to data for 1992. the total population of Sri Lanka is 17.5 million.
The annual per capita income is $ 510. The unemployment rate is 11% of the population (mainly young people under 25). The rapid rise in prices remains a negative factor. The measures taken by the government to create new jobs and programs to combat poverty can somewhat reduce the severity of social problems.
In terms of education (literacy rate - 95% of the population), Sri Lanka is one of the leading places in Asia. Education is free, including university education. More than 30 thousand people study at the country's universities.
Over thirty newspapers and magazines are published in all three Sri Lankan languages. Television is represented by two state programs.
Arts and crafts have long made the island famous. Ancient architectural ensembles, sculpture, painting, wood and metal carvings originated here even before our era. Wherever you go, you will surely meet Sinhalese masks in any shop, attracting with their unusual shapes, brightness and richness of colors. Handicraft production is still widespread in the cities and villages of the republic. Ancient crafts play a significant role in meeting the domestic needs of the country and in the production of some products for export.
National holiday - February 4 - Independence Day. Buddhist or Hindu holidays are widely celebrated in the country. Large Muslim and Christian holidays are also non-working days.
A long-standing custom of the people of Sri Lanka is hospitality.
FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS.
Over 90% of the export value comes from tea (40-60% of foreign exchange earnings), natural rubber and coconut products. The main imports are food; industrial products, raw materials and fuels. The main foreign trade partners are China, Great Britain, Saudi Arabia, Australia, USA, Pakistan, Japan, India.
The monetary unit is the Sri Lankan rupee = 100 cents.
On the international stage, Sri Lanka takes a pragmatic course. It is a member of the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain, since 1948, the UN - since 1955, the Non-Aligned Movement - since 1961, the Association for Regional Cooperation in South Asia (SAARC) - since 1985. He is the head of the UN Special Committee on the Indian Ocean. Colombo hosts the Secretariat of the Organization for Cooperation in the Field of Maritime Activities in Indian Ocean(IOMAK).
GDP - about 6 billion dollars (annual GDP growth in 1992 - 4.5%). The economic policy pursued by the current government is aimed at liberalizing the economy and creating favorable conditions for the inflow of foreign capital. The announcement in 1991 of the entire territory of the country as a free enterprise zone led to a significant increase in foreign investment (350 million dollars in 1991). In 1991, economic aid from Western donors amounted to more than $ 1 billion.
Foreign trade turnover is over $ 3.5 billion with a deficit of about $ 500 million.
In the financial and credit sphere, Sri Lanka has managed to achieve certain success in recent years. With the growth of external debt ($ 6.2 billion in 1991), the rate of its servicing fell in 1991 from 16 to 15%. Foreign exchange reserves - $ 1.1 billion. The practice of covering the deficit financing of the budget by means of foreign aid and domestic loans did not entail uncontrolled inflation. Over the past three years, the Ceylon rupee exchange rate has been kept at the level of 40 - 43 Ceylon rupees per dollar.
Located south of the Indian subcontinent between 5 "54" and 9 "52" north 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 belts. 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 out of the water and sank again. Over the centuries, the displacement of geological layers has 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.
Central is located in the center of the island. mountain range... The average height of the mountains is 1000-2000 m above sea level, but some peaks rise higher. The most high point islands - 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 Mahaveli 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 not originating in the mountains, Kala Oya - 148 km, flows from the ancient giant reservoir Kalaveva, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. The 212 meter high Coslanda Bride Vale, "Bridal Veil" is one of the tallest single-stream 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 uninterrupted white beaches, a clear turquoise ocean, coral reefs and a huge variety of flora... In the north-east, 6-12 km. from Trincomalee Bay, there are a number of cozy hotels - Trinco Blu by Cinnamon, Nilaveli Beach Hotel, Anilana Nilaveli, Pigeon Island Beach Resort from which you can visit unique places for diving and snorkeling, organized daily excursions to the coral island. 14% of the island's territory is occupied by national parks, reserves and reservations. The largest of them are National Park Yala (309 km. From Colombo), Udawalawe National Park (170 km. From Colombo), Wasgamuwa National Park (200 km. From Colombo), Vilpatu National Park (176 km. From Colombo) and Bundala National Park (260 km. From Colombo) Colombo).
Sri Lanka's Southwest Coast is home to uninterrupted golden beaches, hotels and small towns- such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle, Tangalle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns in everything - the blue ocean, golden sand, coconut trees, chic and cheap hotels... The capital of Sri Lanka is a city
Capital - Colombo
Geographical location and relief
The state is located on the island of Sri Lanka in the northern Indian Ocean off the coast of India. The terrain is mostly flat, with the exception of the mountain range in the central part closer to the south. The highest point is Pidurutalagala (2524 m).
Economy
The country is agrarian. About 10% of the world's tea production is concentrated on the island. The most important industry is the textile industry, which accounts for about 60% of exports. Some natural resources are also mined, such as precious stones, graphite, salt. Tourism plays an important role, accounting for about 9% of GDP.
Climate
Most of the country is located in the subequatorial climatic zone, only on the southern shores of the island is the equatorial climate (there is the largest amount of precipitation in the country - up to 5000 mm). Average air temperature within + 26 ° C - + 30 ° C.
Population
The population is 21,200 thousand people. It is characterized by multinationality among the inhabitants, the largest ethnic group is Sinhalese (74%), Tamils (11%), Sri Lankan Moors (9%), descendants of Europeans - burghers (0.3%), Veddas, etc. are also represented.
Sri Lanka is located in South Asia and is an island. The island of Sri Lanka is washed by the Indian Ocean and its Bay of Bengal. It is separated from Hindustan by the Manar Gulf and the Polk Strait 50 km wide. T.N. Adam's Bridge - a chain of islands in the Polk Strait - once completely connected Sri Lanka with the mainland, but, according to the chronicles, it was destroyed by an earthquake around 1481.The island is 350 km long, its width is 180 km at its widest part, and it is the same size as Tasmania or Ireland.
The state of Sri Lanka is located between 5`54` and 9`52` north 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 belts. 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 has repeatedly risen from the water and sank again. Over the centuries, the displacement of geological layers has 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 the 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
The Central mountain range is located in the center of the island. 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 Mahaveli 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 Kalaveva reservoir, built in the 5th century AD. Many rivers are navigable. Where there are mountains and rivers, there are also waterfalls. The 212 meter high Coslanda Bride Vale, "Bridal Veil" is one of the tallest single-stream 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 uninterrupted white beaches, a transparent turquoise ocean, coral reefs and a huge variety of flora. In the north-east, 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 coral island of Pigeon 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), Vilpatu National Park (176 km. From Colombo) and National Bundala Park (260 km. From Colombo).
The southwest coast of Sri Lanka is full of uninterrupted golden beaches, hotels and small towns such as Negombo, Marawila, Mount Lavinia, Wadduwa, Kalutara, Beruwela, Bentota, Hikkaduwa, Galle. The atmosphere of the resort reigns in everything - the blue ocean, golden sand, coconut trees, chic and inexpensive hotels. The capital of Sri Lanka is the city of Colombo, located in the western part of the island, on the ocean coast.
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. Many minerals are found among its crystalline rocks. The most famous deposits of high-quality crystalline graphite, the reserves 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 the construction of houses, which is formed during the weathering of crystalline rocks containing compounds of aluminum and iron (the latter give laterite a brick-red color). Laterite is easily cut into bricks, which quickly become hard in air.
Sri Lanka is famous for precious stones: rubies, sapphires, topaz, amethysts. As the ancient chronicle "Mahavamsa" testifies, many kings and sultans in other countries adorned their crowns with these stones mined on the island. The centuries-old predatory exploitation has led to the depletion of rich deposits, but the extraction of precious stones still continues.
The country is looking for oil, in the 1970s Soviet geologists also took part in them. According to experts, there are sedimentary structures promising for oil on the shelf of Sri Lanka. In the 1980s, prospecting work in the shelf zone began, for which the State Oil Corporation of Sri Lanka entered into long-term contracts with companies from the United States and Canada. There is an agreement with the Indian Oil and Natural Gas Commission on joint exploration work.
Inland waters of Sri Lanka
Plain rivers are short, mountain rivers have great hydropower potential. The water in most rivers is warm. The largest rivers are Mahaveli-Ganga, Kelani, Kalu, Aruvi-Aru.
Mahaveli 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 and covers almost one fifth of the total area of the island. The river reaches the Bay of Bengal in the northwestern part of the island. 6 hydroelectric dams have been built on the river.
Sri Lanka climate
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.
The air humidity is high and almost always remains 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 October to April (northeast monsoon), but these periods often have different time frames in different areas of the island.
Flora and fauna of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's nature 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 in Sri Lanka is 16% of all fauna and 23% of 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 foothills of the mountains and on their slopes, in some places there are dense humid equatorial forests with a huge variety of types of vegetation (ebony, teak, silk wood, fruit trees). Thorny bushes grow along the northwestern and southeastern coasts, and sometimes mangroves and coconut palms are found.
Fauna. Sri Lanka is home to 91 species, 41 of which are endangered (9 in critical condition). 16 species of island endemic, of which 14 are endangered, including the Gubach bear (Melursus ursinus), the endemic Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera pardus kotiya) and the Sri Lankan elephant (Elephas maximus maximus), as well as the Indian sambar deer (Cervus unicolor). Among 11 orders, the largest number of species falls on the order Bats (30 species). In the sea waters surrounding Sri Lanka, 26 species of the order Cetaceans are found.
Sri Lanka is home to: 227 bird species (previously noted up to 486 species), 46 of which are endangered (10 in critical condition); 171 reptile species are found in Sri Lanka, of which 56 are endangered and 101 species are endemic to the island (these are mainly snakes). And the largest species are represented by two crocodiles: Swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) and Saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus).
Sri Lanka is one of the most species-diverse regions in the world for the class Amphibians. 106 species of amphibians live here, 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 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 (as of July 2009). The annual growth rate is 0.9%. Fertility - 16.2 per 1000 (fertility - 1.99 births per woman); Mortality rate - 6.1 per 1000; Emigration - 1.1 per 1000; Infant mortality - 18.5 per 1000; 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 the Arabs) - about 7%, burghers (descendants of mixed marriages with Europeans) - about 0.3%, Veddas (descendants of the ancient population of the island) - about 1,000 people.
About 70% of the population (mainly Sinhalese) profess Buddhism, 15% - Hinduism (Tamils), 8% - Christianity, 7% - Islam (Sri Lankan Moors). Literacy - 92% of men, 89% of women (2001 census).
The official languages are Sinhalese and Tamil, English is widely spoken. The ethnic composition of the population mainly corresponds to the religious affiliation of the population: Buddhism is practiced by about 70% (mainly Sinhalese), Hinduism - by more than 17% (mainly Tamils), Islam and Christianity - by about 8% (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/
Sri Lanka- a state in South Asia, on the island of the same name off the southeastern coast of Hindustan, washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and its Bay of Bengal.
It is separated from Hindustan by the Manar Gulf and the Polk Strait. The so-called Adam's Bridge - a shoal in the Polk Strait - once completely connected Sri Lanka with the mainland, but, according to the chronicles, it was destroyed by an earthquake around 1481.
The island is 350 km long, 180 km wide at its widest, and is the same size as Tasmania or Ireland.
Most of the territory is occupied by coastal lowlands. The mountains are located in the central part of the country; highest peak- Pidurutalagala city (2524 m), another famous peak is Adam's Peak.
Climate in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's climate is tropical, warm and humid. Seasonal weather changes are small. It rains mostly at night.
The air temperature on the island practically does not change and is equal to 28-30 ºС all year round, with the exception of mountainous regions, where the average annual temperature is +23 - + 25 ºС. On the alpine resort Nuwara Eliya temperature during the day is + 18 ° C, at night it drops to + 10 ° C.
Almost 95% of all precipitation falls during the rainy summer season (from May to the end of October). The rest of the months are rather dry, so the period from November to the end of April is the most favorable for a holiday in Sri Lanka.
The water temperature in the Indian Ocean is about + 26 ° C.
From November to March they blow north winds, so a calm sea and comfortable weather are worth looking for in the western and south bank islands. From April to October, the western monsoon blows, so for calm water and cloudless weather, you need to go to the east coast.
Population
Population - 20,238,000 (2009). 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 the Arabs) - about 7%, burghers (descendants of mixed marriages with Europeans) - about 0.3%, Veddas (descendants of the ancient population of the island) - about 1,000 people.
About 70% of the population (mainly Sinhalese) profess Buddhism, 15% - Hinduism (Tamils), 8% - Christianity, 7% - Islam (Sri Lankan Moors).
Official languages - Sinhalese, Tamil. IN tourist areas English is widely spoken.
Last changes: 26.04.2013Currency
The Sri Lankan rupee (LKR) is the currency of Sri Lanka. 1 LKR = 100 cents.
In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 2000 Sri Lankan rupees, as well as coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 cents and 1, 2, 5 Sri Lankan rupees.
It is better to exchange currency at Colombo airport. It makes sense to keep the receipt received until the end of the trip: in this case, when departing from Colombo, it will be possible to convert back unspent local money at the airport bank at the purchase rate. In addition, currency can be exchanged at any hotel and bank. Banks are open from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday.
Large hotels and shops accept international credit cards.
Last changes: 26.04.2013Communication and communications
Phone code: 94
Internet domain: .lk
Police: 133, Ambulance: 144, fire department: 122
Telephone area codes
Colombo - 1, Kandy - 8, Galle - 9, Bentota - 34, Negombo - 31, Nuwara Eliya - 52, Trincomalee - 26
How to call
To call from Russia to Sri Lanka, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 94 - area code - subscriber's number.
To call from Sri Lanka to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.
Fixed connection
Tritel payphones (blue) are installed on the streets of the cities. You can use both coins and cards in the machines. Telephone cards are usually sold at nearby stores.
mobile connection
IN international airport Colombo sold local operator SIM cards mobile communications- Mobitel (National Mobile Provider of Sri Lanka). The cost of the card is 1000 rupees, half of which is transferred to the account. One minute of conversation with Russia will cost about 11 rupees, calls within the country - 8 rupees per minute.
All questions related to the use of roaming are recommended to be clarified with your provider.
Last changes: 26.04.2013Shopping in Sri Lanka
The best purchases that can be made on this island are jewelry made from blue sapphire, which is only mined here, as well as from amethyst, garnet and moonstone. It is better to buy jewelry in specialized stores (you can buy a fake on the street), and do not forget about the check or export certificate, so as not to unexpectedly say goodbye to the paid jewelry at the border.
You should definitely buy tea; bottles of arat - local coconut vodka, exclusive batik products painted in white-blue, sunny-golden and red-ocher tones, spices, aromatic oils and ceramics and leather products are also popular with tourists.
Ceylon spices and handicrafts are also popular with tourists: masks, batik, leather things. In cities, you can also buy inexpensive textiles.
Typically, on weekdays, shops are open from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. It is worth bargaining in the markets and in private stores (you can reduce the price by about 30% compared to the initial one). But in state stores, supermarkets, shopping centers and duty-free shops at the airport, all prices are fixed.
Last changes: 26.04.2013Where to stay
Hotels in Sri Lanka are usually small and stand right on the shore. Each is made in its own unique style, but they all reflect customs and traditions local culture and organically fit into the natural landscape. Each hotel has its own programs for the entertainment of guests: theme nights, ethnic and cultural performances, fashion shows, barbecues at the moon, organizing fishing, picnics, excursions and much more.
Service in hotels varies greatly: in the "five" it is at a high level, and in establishments of the four "stars" category and below, you need to make a discount on the fact that the service staff are "Eastern people", and it would be desirable to give a tip so that they moved faster.
In accordance with international rules, the checkout time in hotels is 12:00 local time. On the day of arrival, check-in to the room is carried out after 14:00.
Last changes: 26.04.2013History of Sri Lanka
The most ancient inhabitants of the island of Sri Lanka - the ancestors of the Veddas - belonged to the mixed Australoid-Negroid race.
The Sinhalese arrived on the island around the 6th century. BC e. from northern India.
In the III century. BC e. Buddhism penetrates the island.
In the III-XIII centuries. n. e. on the island there were large Sinhalese kingdoms with capitals first in Anuradhapura, then in Polonnaruwa. The frescoes of the Sigiriya rock (Lion's Rock) in the central part of the island also belong to this period.
Tamils penetrated the island gradually, and by the XIII century. a large community has already developed in the north and east of the island.
After the fall of the Polonnaruwa dynasty of Sinhalese monarchs, the capital was moved several times. By the time the Portuguese occupied the coast of the island in the 16th century. she was in Cotta.
In the XVII century. the Portuguese were replaced by the Dutch. However, even during the period of Dutch domination, the interior regions retained their independence. The last Sinhalese kingdom, with its capital in Kandy, was liquidated by the British in 1796; in 1802 the entire island became a colony of the British Empire.
In 1948, the country gained independence under the name Ceylon, remaining the dominion of Great Britain.
In 1972, the country was renamed Sri Lanka and ceased to be a dominion, remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
The next 20 years of the country's history were marred by armed conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebel organization. The armed struggle of the LTTE to establish an independent Tamil state of Tamil Eelam in the northeastern Tamil-dominated island of Tamil Eelam began in 1983. Since then, more than 65 thousand people have become victims of the Sinhalo-Tamil interethnic conflict, hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee their homes.
In 1991, the Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi was killed by Tamil terrorists (as revenge for sending Indian troops to the island to help the Sri Lankan government troops in the mid-1980s), in 1993 - the President of Sri Lanka Ranasinghe Premadasa.
The large Tamil diaspora is actively helping the rebels. Starting the armed struggle, the LTTE movement aimed to achieve full independence. However, subsequently, its leaders agreed to consider a proposal to grant the northeastern part of the island broad autonomy within a single state. In 2002, a temporary ceasefire was signed with the mediation of Norway. However, after the election of hardliner Mahinda Rajapakse as president of Sri Lanka in the fall of 2005, proclaiming the slogan "No negotiations with terrorists", the negotiation process has reached a dead end.
In December 2004, the country was hit hard by a tsunami caused by an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. More than 38 thousand people were killed, 6 thousand were missing, hundreds of thousands were homeless. Sri Lanka received substantial financial assistance. The program to restore the economy is being actively implemented; it is planned to recreate 19 cities destroyed by the tsunami.
On May 18, 2009, a 50,000-strong group of Sri Lankan government forces ended an operation in a war that had been waged with short interruptions since 1983. In the north of the country, on the Jaffna Peninsula, after the capture of the Mullaittivu, the main forces of Tamil separatists from the LTTE movement were surrounded and eliminated (“ Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam "). Throughout the week, there were still separate clashes with scattered separatist detachments hiding in the jungle, but the outcome of the operation and the war could no longer be changed. Regular forces established confident control over the last hotbed of resistance, during the operation, the permanent leader of the separatists, Velupillai Prabahakarana, was killed.
On February 9, 2010, President Mahinda Rajapakse issued a decree to dissolve parliament and ordered the arrest of opposition leader Zarat Fonseca, thus taking a sharp course of moving away from democracy towards authoritarianism.
Last changes: 26.04.2013Ayurveda
The word "Ayurveda (ayurveda)" means "the science of life". Ayurvedic treatment in Sri Lanka not only prevents and cures diseases, but also monitors the behavior and psychological state of a particular person on a daily basis. Ayurveda is not limited to the treatment of individual parts of the body, but mainly affects the entire body. The biggest advantage of this system is that it doesn't have any side effects. "Do not harm!" - the main motto of traditional medicine.
All raw materials used in the manufacture of medicines are made from natural ingredients. The leaves of medicinal herbs are used in the manufacture of herbal baths, and the roots are ground into a healing powder for aromatherapy, oils necessary for massage are squeezed out of seeds and fruits. Ayurvedic medicinal products are available in different forms: tablets, massage oils, pastes, drops, inhalers, herbal infusions, decoctions.
The most effective and unique method of treatment is Pancha Karma: a comprehensive treatment that includes all forms of Ayurveda, such as massage, herbal saunas (aromatherapy), meditation and other types of psychotherapy, a variety of diets, decoctions and tablets (oral therapy). "Pancha Karma" not only cures diseases, but also prevents their development, as it strengthens the immunity of the human body. Modern Ayurveda includes all the secrets traditional medicine time-tested and improved by modern technologies. The most important treatments offered by Ayurveda are herbal baths and massages, as well as diets.
Even a small health course gives positive results: it improves health, relieves stress, fatigue and discomfort, increases the body's resistance to disease. However, in case of serious diseases, a long course of treatment is required, under the supervision of specialists. It is known that the Ayurveda course has a strong anti-aging effect.
Last changes: 26.04.2013Diving, surfing and entertainment
Sri Lanka attracts divers all over the world with a variety of corals, marine life with unusual names and species (angel fish, Moorish idols, parrotfish), dolphins and whale sharks, which can be seen from March to April. But the main feature of diving in Sri Lanka is visiting underwater rocks, grottoes and wrecks. About 20 dead ships of the 19th and 20th centuries are open for inspection at depths from 8 to 30 meters. These are tankers, steamships, bulk carriers, merchant ships and even a modern cargo ship. Many of them are well preserved, and you can even swim inside them.
The abundance of fish in the coastal waters of Sri Lanka attracts fishing enthusiasts here. Sri Lanka's coastal reefs are rich in plankton, which attracts tuna, Spanish mackerel, marlin and some shark species.
The variety of seafood at the fish markets in Colombo or Negombo is striking. A visit to the fish market in the early morning is already an exciting excursion, but it is much more interesting to take part in fishing yourself.
Fans of extreme recreation in Sri Lanka can be offered rafting on the Kelani mountain river. The duration of rafting is determined by the tourist himself - the choice of programs here is very large.
Also popular with tourists are 2-3 hour river safari. The most interesting in this respect is the Bentota River (although other rivers are also of significant interest, for example the Kalu Ganga). In the river and on its banks there are quite a lot of various animals - monitor lizards, crocodiles, small species of monkeys, many birds. The banks of the river are covered with mangroves.
The island has several excellent international standard golf courses where you can take a training course.
On the coast of the country, both to the west and to the east, there are many places suitable for surfing, but the most popular of them is the coast of Hikkaduwa. Wide shores, crystal clear waters, scorching sun and excellent surf have made Hikkaduwa a prime surfer destination. From October to April, the wave size here ranges from 1 to 3.5 meters, and the structure of the waves allows the surfer to move in both directions. In the Hikkaduwa area and further to the south, there are about 12 points for good surfing, the most popular are Mirissa, Midigama, Kabalana (the place where surfers hang out - Kabalana Hotel).
Between April and October, the best place for surfing is located on the east coast, in the Gulf of Arugam Bay, near the town of Pottuvil. Arugam bay Surfing Beach is the most popular place hangouts of all surfers in the summer. There are at least 6-7 great surfing spots in Arugam Bay, some of them up to 1 km in length. The average wave size here is from 1.5 to 3.7 meters. For the most part, these places are not as crowded as those on the west coast. The most popular spots are Arugam Bay Main, Pottuvil, Okanda, Crocodile Rock.
Last changes: 26.04.2013Useful and interesting information
In markets, private shops, etc. you can bargain about the price. You can reduce the price by 30% from the initial price. However, this is unacceptable in government stores, supermarkets, shopping malls and airport duty free shops.
Despite the small likelihood of theft on the island, luggage should not be left unattended, as local residents may suspect that it contains explosives.
If you do not want to be detained, searched or interrogated, do not take photographs of power plants, port facilities, airports, military units and railway stations.
Sri Lanka is a country with a hot climate, therefore, in order to avoid stomach infections and poisoning, you must thoroughly wash your hands before eating, as well as vegetables and fruits purchased on the market. Tap water is not recommended for drinking: it is better to use mineral water and other factory-bottled drinks.
In the evening and when visiting national parks and reserves, it is recommended to use repellents. Before making an overnight trip to the jungle, tourists should take antimalarial pills in advance. You should not go to the temples in shorts or in clothes with an open back and shoulders. Also, when entering the temple, you need to take off your shoes.
Be careful about monkeys! The numerous flocks of which have become in Sri Lanka something of a natural disaster. They scurry about everywhere and are very intrusive. They can snatch food or things from their hands, up to a camera or camcorder. Moreover, monkeys can climb into hotel room and arrange a uniform pogrom there. Therefore, always close windows or special mosquito frames with a net before leaving.
Outside the center of Colombo " night life"there is no activity, basically any activity on the streets (trade, work of institutions) stops at sunset at 19 o'clock in the evening.
You should be careful when using gestures familiar in Russia: the analogue of the gesture of the middle finger is a gesture that is performed by squeezing the palm turned upwards into a fist and protruding the index finger upwards.
We recommend wearing lightweight cotton or linen clothing, sandals and a hat. Rest in Sri Lanka is quite democratic and does not impose strict requirements for clothing, however, out of respect for holy places, you should visit temples in clothes that cover your knees, shoulders and back, you must take off your shoes and headwear when entering any temple. Women are not allowed to sunbathe on the beach in "topless".
Ceylon spices
Since ancient times, Sri Lanka has been world famous for its spices, especially during the Silk Road, when spices played a large role in food preparation. Until the 15th century, the spice trade was in the hands of Arab merchants, but when European navigators opened sea routes to the east, this monopoly was broken. Now cinnamon, cloves, peppers, vanilla, cardamom and other spices are grown in small private farms in the Kegalle, Mavanella, Kandy and Matale regions, where the climate is quite humid and cool. The bulk of the products are exported. Spices are used not only in food, but also in medicine and in the production of cosmetics.
There are “spice gardens” scattered all over the country, where tourists can see how spices grow, listen to a short story about their use, and, of course, buy. Here you will see the most "expensive" tree in the world - sandalwood with a brown-gray trunk, many smooth and flexible branches and leathery leaves of purplish-pink color. For the production of aromatic oils, trees over thirty years old are used.
It also sells a wide variety of oils, masks, creams and Ayurvedic preparations for treating any ailments made from these plants. Women have a unique opportunity to purchase real sandalwood and coconut oil here to prolong their youth. In the spice garden, tourists will be shown the preparation of various preparations.
Ceylon tea
For the first time tea was brought to the island in 1824 from China, and in 1839 from Assam (India) and was tested in the Botanical Garden of Peradeniya. It turned out that the Chinese variety adapted better to the highlands of Nuwara Eliya, while the Indian variety adapted well on the plains of the island. In 1867, Scottish planter James Taylor pioneered the commercial cultivation of tea, planting 80 hectares of seedlings in the Nuwara Eliya area.
Sri Lanka now ranks third in the world in tea production and first in export, providing about 25% of global demand. For its unique characteristics, Ceylon tea is recognized as the best in the world. Due to the climatic conditions, the local tea has a delicate taste and aroma. Tea is cultivated all year round and is grown at three levels: up to 600 m above sea level in the regions of Balangoda, Ratnapura, Kelaniya and Galle river valleys; from 600 to 1200 m and above 1200 m in areas around Nuwara Eliya.
It is better to buy tea during an excursion to a tea factory: the prices are much lower, and the assortment is larger. In addition, most of the tea bags are very nice and original.
Last changes: 26.04.2013How to get to Sri Lanka
Direct regular flights from the Russian capital to Sri Lanka are carried out only by the Sri Lankan national airline Srilankan Airlines. Travel time is 8 hours 30 minutes. Airbus A-330 flies. Departures from Moscow at 20:15 Moscow time on Tue, Fri, Sat (arrives in Colombo early in the morning - at 6:15 local time).
In addition to it, you can fly from Moscow to Ceylon with a landing or transfer at one of the airports in the Middle East, for example, with Emirates Airlines (Dubai), Qatar Airways(Doha) and Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi). Flight time is on average from 11 to 15 hours (including connections).
In addition to these four options described above, many other Asian airlines fly to the island - from India, Singapore and Thailand.
Last changes: 09.06.2014