Geo Unit 03

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Sri Lanka's Diverse Landscapes

Sri Lanka, an island in the Indian Ocean with a land area of about 65,610 km², has a variety of
landscapes, each with unique physical and human features. Let's explore the main regions:

1. Hill Country

• Elevation: Above 300m sea level, mainly in the Central Hills and Sabaragamuwa Hills.
• Physical Features:
o Mountain ranges, plateaus, rivers flowing through valleys, waterfalls, and gaps.
o Vegetation cover compatible with relief and climate.
o Tea plantations with tea factories, worker houses, bungalows, and developed road
systems.
o Commercial cultivation of vegetables, fruits, flowers, and livestock farms.
o Road networks with many bends due to the hilly terrain.
• Human Activities:
o Tea cultivation and associated industries.
o Tourist attractions including hotels, tourist bungalows, and recreational areas.
• Tourist Features:
o Both local and foreign tourists visit for physical and mental relaxation.

2. Dry Zone

• Location: North, North Central, East, and Southeast regions.


• Physical Features:
o Plains and scattered residual hills.
o Rivers that dry up part of the year, trees with tall trunks and hard heartwood.
o Grass, shrubs with thorny bushes in arid climates like Mannar, Puttalam, and
Hambantota.
o Ancient sites like Sigiriya, Dambulla, Ritigala, and Kataragama.
o Tanks built for irrigation using rainwater and the Mahaweli River.
• Human Activities:
o Paddy cultivation under irrigation.
o Farming settlements with facilities for cultivators.
o Chena cultivation using rainwater.
• Cultural Features:
o Sacred sites like Anuradhapura’s Sri Maha Bodhi, Madu Church, Koneswaram
Hindu Temple, and Kirivehera.
3. Wet Zone

• Location: Southwestern, Western, and Eastern slopes of the Central Hills.


• Physical Features:
o Flat lands, ridges, rivers flowing year-round, marshy lands, and rich vegetation.
o Subject to frequent flooding and landslides due to heavy rains.
• Human Activities:
o Diverse agricultural land use: coconut on the coast, paddy in river valleys, rubber
and tea on slopes.
o Urban and industrial centers like Colombo, Gampaha, Matara, Galle, Negombo,
Kandy, and Kalutara.
o Developed infrastructure: roads, expressways, overhead bridges, and railways.
• Tourist Features:
o Free trade zones and industrial colonies attracting job seekers.
o A mix of urban and rural features with a well-developed transportation network.

4. Jaffna Peninsula and Surrounding Islands

• Location: Northern region, including Delft, Kayts, and Nainativu islands.


• Physical Features:
o Flat lands, lagoons, islands, sand sheets, rich red soil, and limestone soil.
o Low rainfall, high temperature, and high evaporation rates.
• Human Activities:
o Agriculture using well water, growing vegetables like potatoes, chillies, onions,
and fruits like grapes, mangoes, and bananas.
o Coastal fishing industry, handicrafts, and salt production.
• Cultural Features:
o Abundance of palmyra palm used in daily life.
o Hindu temples and cultural activities like religious festivals and processions.

5. Coastal Belt

• Features:
o Islands, bays, lagoons, mangroves, coral reefs, and sand sheets.
• Human Activities:
o Fishing in shallow sea and lagoons.
o Industries based on coastal resources like coir products and dry fish.
o Tourist attractions with hotels, restaurants, archaeological sites, lighthouses,
religious centers, and sanctuaries.
• Tourist Features:
o Attractive coastal areas like Tangalle, Hambantota, Passikudah, Unawatuna,
Arugam Bay, and Hikkaduwa coral reefs.
• Environmental Concerns:
o Damage due to coral reef breaking and sand removal from beaches.

Summary: Though Sri Lanka is a small island, it has diverse landscapes. Traveling from North
to South or East to West, one can observe all these landscapes in a day, showcasing the island's
rich physical and cultural diversity.

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