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

The point is that, regardless of the season and the location of the resort, there are always many more sunny and hot days on the island, so you can relax there both in summer and in winter. The state is called paradise on Earth for a reason - geography of Sri Lanka strikes with its diversity and wealth: there are high mountains, gentle hills and narrow gorges. Geologists explain this phenomenon by the fact that for millions of years the island either sank under the waters of the Indian Ocean, then rose outward.

The water washed away the rocks of the island, forming its surface. In the middle of the island lies a colorful mountain range, while the rest is quiet lowlands and beautiful coastal areas washed by a sky-blue ocean. This helped develop Sri Lanka tourism to a high level.

Sri Lanka Time

Sri Lanka is 800 km away. from the equator and 180 degrees from the Prime Meridian. Therefore - UTC +6. By time Sri Lanka ahead of Moscow by two hours, and Kiev by three. When calculating the time, you should take into account the transition to other time modes.

Sri Lanka climate

Proximity to the equator and unusual geography strongly influenced. The center and north of Sri Lanka is located in the subequatorial zone, and the eastern and western parts are in the equatorial zone. The island is protected from temperature extremes by a mountain range that stops gusts of wind, so it is warm here all year round. This idyll is darkened only by the summer rainy season, which lasts from June to August. The rest of the time the weather is hot, dry and calm.

Sri Lanka weather

Throughout the year, the temperature ranges from +27 to + 30. Temperature fluctuations in the hottest and coldest months do not exceed 5 degrees. Sri Lanka weather the cities are characterized by high humidity, while the coast is more comfortable to relax due to the influence of the ocean.

Sri Lanka nature

The climatic zones and geography of the island have given rise to its lush flora and fauna. In the green jungle, entwined with vines and orchids, you can meet exotic animals with incredibly bright colors. There you can find monkeys, lemurs, huge insects and birds. As soon as the sun sets, predators enter the arena of the animal world - tigers, lions and leopards. Sri Lanka nature preserved thanks to the careful Buddhist traditions that helped to preserve such a rare species as wild elephants.

GENERAL INFORMATION.

Figures and facts.

Square- 65610 sq. km Population – 17619000

Capital- 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 rupee

Main 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 the Democratic Socialist Republic of 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 e., when immigrants from 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 into the jungle and the mountainous part of the country of the Veddas and others local tribes, they settled on a vast, relatively dry plain in the northwestern and eastern parts of the island, creating a large center of irrigated agriculture there.

In the III century. BC NS. 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 of national culture.

The favorable geographical position of the island 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. NS. 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 in the course of 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 into northern part countries - 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 intensification 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 at Colombo and Trincomalee, was valued as an important strategic junction on 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. - Great Britain. The country gained independence in 1948, and

proclaimed the former Ceylon a free and sovereign republic.

At the present time, in the conditions of an aggravated political situation, an upsurge of the national liberation movement began to be observed.

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 farms.

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 commercial 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 the 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. Between the end railway stations located on Pamban and Manar, there are ferries that transport trains and cars.

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 separate rocky outliers rise. 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 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 comparatively small country!

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 - 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 largest number they fall in 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 distinguished by the inconstancy of the 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 there are thickets of thorny bushes, in places near the coasts - mango forests, coconut palms.

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 reminiscent of large bats - flying dogs, squirrels, foxes. Caught by their paws on the branches of trees, they hang in whole bunches.

V big rivers far from villages there are crocodiles up to 8 m long, so you can't 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). Among mammals there are 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. A significant part 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 scarcity. The rent for the use of land has been somewhat reduced. 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 humid 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 moisture in 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. At the same time, the Sri Lankan authorities used helpful advice 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 ranks one of the last places in the world for their per capita consumption. 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 farming 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. Construction of state-owned 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 machine building and metalworking are mainly assembly plants supplying equipment for light industry, transport equipment, agricultural implements, etc. Fertilizer production, 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 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 of the country. The official languages ​​are Sinhalese, Tamil and English. Tamils ​​(2.6 million people) make up 2 separate branches: the Sri Lankan (in the northern and eastern regions) and Indian (in the 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). Descendants oldest population are the Veddas. 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 19th and beginning of the 20th 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 began to deliberately limit the number of children (following public policy"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, 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). Major 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 (mostly 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. The ancients architectural ensembles, sculpture, painting, woodcarving and metal carving 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 Indian Ocean Maritime Cooperation Organization (IOMAC).

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 more than $ 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 budget deficit financing with 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.

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 most high point- Pidurutalagala city (2524 m).

Economy

The country is agricultural. 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 southern shores The island's climate is equatorial (the largest amount of precipitation in the country falls there - up to 5000 mm). average temperature air 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.

Geography of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is a state located in South Asia near the equator, on the island of the same name in the Indian Ocean. A beautiful tropical island with long sandy beaches surrounded by lush tropical greenery is located just 34 km southeast of the Indian city of Rameshwaram. Sri Lanka is the 25th largest island in the world.

The island of Sri Lanka is separated from mainland India by the Palk bay, as well as a chain of small islands called the Adam's Bridge located in the Mannar Bay. The total length of the coastline of Sri Lanka is 1340 km. On the west side, the island is washed by the Laccadive Sea, on the east - by the Bay of Bengal (from all sides the country is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean). The state has maritime boundaries with India in the northwest and the Maldives in the southwest.

Coordinates of the island of Sri Lanka

• Length: from 5 ° 55 "C to 9 ° 50" C,
• Width: 79 ° 41 "B to 81 ° 52" B.

Coordinates are given at the extreme points of the island.

Distance from Sri Lanka to the Equator

Contrary to popular misconception, the equator line does not pass through Sri Lanka, the distance by water from the southernmost point of the island (Cape Dondra in the Matara region) to the equator is 650 km.

Territory of the island

The area occupied by the state is 65,610 sq km, of which 64,740 sq km belongs to the land, and 870 sq km to the water part. Most big Island Sri Lanka has an area of ​​65.268 sq km, its length is 430 km, and its width is 218.82 km (Negombo - Kalmunai).

Relief

The entire surface of the island of Sri Lanka can be divided by geographic relief into three zones with an appropriate climate: Central highlands, plains and coastal lowlands. The relief of the island is very heterogeneous, due to which there are several climatic zones with significantly different weather conditions and temperatures.

Central Highlands of Sri Lanka (center of the country)

The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka are the heart of the island, and this area includes its highest mountains. The high plateau, located in the center of the island, stretches for 65 km from north to south. The highest point of the country is Pidurutalagala Mountain, 2,524 m high, located at the southern end of the plateau. Nuwara Eliya, famous for its tea, is located at the foot of Pidurutalagala. Many kilometers of mountain ranges stretch from Pidurutalagala: to the west to Sri Pada / Adam's Peak by 50 km, the height of the peak is 2.243 m, and also to the east, to Mount Namunakula, 2.036 m high. On the sides of the high central ridges are two lower plateaus.

To the west of the Central Highlands lies the Horton Plateau, a deeply dissected series of ridges, with a steep edge descending to lower elevations towards the north. The Uva Plateau, located in the east of the Central Highlands, consists of valleys interspersed with deep valleys and gorges. In the north, separated from the main part of the mountain and the plateau by wide valleys, lies the Knuckles massif: steep mountain ledges, deep gorges and peaks rise to more than 1,800 meters above sea level. To the south of Adam's Peak lie the parallel Rakwan Ranges, with several peaks over 1,400 meters high. The level of altitude drops from the central part of the highlands to a series of slopes, to an altitude of 400-500 meters, before descending to the low zone of the coastal plains.

Plains of Sri Lanka (north)

Most of the surface of the island of Sri Lanka lies on plains with a height of 30 to 200 meters above sea level. In the southwest, the ridges and depressions gradually rise to the level of altitude, merging with the Central Highlands. Extensive erosion in this area has led to the destruction of many ridges and the formation of fertile soil downstream of the rivers. In the southeast, red lateritic soils create a relatively flat surface of monolithic hills. The transition from the plain to the central part of the highlands in the southeast is quite steep: the mountains rise almost vertically. In the east and north, the highland is a flat plain, dissected by long narrow granite ridges extending from its central part.

Coastal Lowlands (Coast at the Rim of the Island)

The mountainous part of the country is surrounded by coastal lowlands, lying at an altitude of about 30 m above sea level. Much of the coastline is made up of scenic sandy beaches with extensive coastal lagoons and wetlands. In the northeast and southwest, there are natural bays of Galle and Trincomalee deeply cut into the land.

Natural resources of Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, significant reserves of such rocks as limestone, graphite, quartzite, marble, minerals, phosphates, and clays exist and are being developed.

Sri Lanka mountains

The highest mountains in Sri Lanka are located in the Central Highlands in the regions of Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura, their height ranges from 2000 to 2524 meters. List of the most high mountains islands:

1. Pidurutalagala - 2524 m
2. Kirigalpotta - 2395 m
3. Totupola Kanda - 2357 m
4. Kudahagala - 2320 m
5. Adam's Peak - 2243 m
6. Kikilimana - 2240 m
7. Great Western - 2216 m
8. Hakgala - 2170 m
9. Konical Hill - 2166 m
10. Van three hill - 2100 m

Sri Lanka islands

The territories of Sri Lanka include not only the island of the same name, but also a number of islands, the total area of ​​which is over 342 sq km. Most of the islands are concentrated in the northern and northeastern regions of the country: Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Puttalam, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Jaffna. They were formed millions of years ago during the departure of Sri Lanka from the continental territory of Hindustan. The numerous islands in the northern part of the country vary greatly in size. So, one of the smallest in terms of area is Pigeon (Trincomalee), occupying an area of ​​only 0.01 sq km, while the largest - North Mannar occupies 126 sq km.

Sri Lanka rivers

Due to the relief, which forms a large number of rivers, and many natural and man-made reservoirs, Sri Lanka has huge reserves of renewable water resources: 53 cubic km. The longest river in the country, with a length of 325 km, is the Mahaveli Ganga River, which originates in the valleys of the Horton Plateau.

The second longest is Malvathu Oya, with a length of 164 km. The rest of the rivers (there are more than a hundred of them) have a shorter length, but, in general, they also originate in the Central Highlands, such as the Kelani Ganga or Walave Ganga. The total length of rivers exceeds 4,500 km; on the territory of the island there are reservoirs with a total area of ​​169,941 hectares.

Man-made reservoirs dug in antiquity by the Sinhalese kings throughout the island and the infrastructure work carried out by the Dutch in the 18th century to build canals on the island still provide water to all major cities.

10 longest rivers in Sri Lanka

1. Mahaveli Ganga - 325 km;
2. Aruvi Aru - 170 km;
3. Malvathu Oya - 164 km;
4. Cala Oya - 148 km;
5. Kelani Ganga - 145 km;
6. Yan Oya - 142 km;
7. Deduru Oya - 142 km;
8. Valave Ganga - 138 km;
9. Maduru Oya - 135 km;
10. Maha Oya - 134 km.

Coral reefs of Sri Lanka

The island of Sri Lanka is surrounded by coral reefs that are found along the coastline around it. The corals in the northeastern part of the island are much better preserved to this day than the corals in the southwest. In the south, they were badly damaged during the 2004 tsunami, which practically destroyed the "Underwater Gardens" of Hikkaduwa and other resort towns.

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 is 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 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. Waterfall Babarakanda - 241 m. The highest cascade on the island.

East Coast 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 diving and snorkeling sites, 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 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).

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. Locals used for the construction of houses laterite, which is formed during the weathering of crystalline rocks containing compounds of aluminum and iron (the latter give laterites 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 - largest river in Sri Lanka. Length 335 km. It originates in the central province. Its pool is the largest in the country and covers almost one fifth of total area islands. The river reaches the Bay of Bengal in the northwestern part of the island. 6 hydroelectric dams have been erected 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 in 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 (south-western 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 belongs to 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. It is home to 106 species of amphibians, 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.

Sri Lanka population

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).

Official languages ​​- Sinhalese and Tamil, widely spoken English... 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/