Content
Maha Eli
Thanna, known as Horton Plains, is the largest protected forest ecosystem
located in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, spreading across the districts of
Nuwara Eliya and Uva. It has been designated a national park and features
breathtaking landscapes with rich biodiversity. The plateau extends through
mountainous terrain, covering approximately 18,000 hectares with four distinct
ecological zones. The altitudinal range is between 1,200 and 2,300 meters above
sea level.
Ecosystems Found Within Horton Plains
- Montane cloud forests
- Grasslands
- Bogs
- Shallow wetlands
Historical Significance
Many
environmental and biological elements unique to Horton Plains date back to the
end of the Ice Age (Pleistocene epoch). According to a 2006 thesis, "The
emergence of early agriculture in the Horton Plains," by Dr. Rathnasiri
Premathilake of the University of Kelaniya:
- The Balangoda Man used advanced
stone tools about 30,000 years ago with discoveries found in Horton
Plains.
- Sediment samples reveal
fossilized pollen dated to 7,000 years ago.
- Slash-and-burn farming was
practiced approximately 7,000 years ago, including cultivation of wild
rice.
- Barley and oats cultivation
date back around 15,000-14,000 years ago.
- Mesolithic humans transitioned
to agriculture while living in Horton Plains.
- Substantial rainfall about
9,000 years ago created large reservoirs.
Geographic Location
Horton
Plains is a highland plateau sitting at an altitude between 2,100 and 2,300
meters, located between Pattipola in Nuwara Eliya and Ohiya in Uva Province. It
is the headwater area for Sri Lanka’s three major rivers: Mahaweli, Kelani, and
Walave.
Biodiversity
- Annual rainfall: ~5,000
millimeters
- Average temperature: 15°C
(drops to 2-3°C during December and January with frequent frost)
.jpg)
- Binar Flower
- Maharatmal
- Nelu (Strobilanthes species)
- Wild cinnamon (Cinnamomum
ovalifolium)
- Dwarf bamboo (Sinarundinaria
densifolia)
- Calophyllum walkeri
- Elephant ear tree (Actinodaphne
speciosa)
- Cyclosorus interruptus fern
- Kikurya grass (Pennisetum
clandestinum)
- Various wild plants including
Innamounonalifolium and Syzygium ravolutum
Fauna
Elephants
were once abundant though now absent. Other species include Sri Lankan leopard,
Indian pangolin, muntjac, wild boar, and various birds.
Environmental Significance
Horton
Plains plays a critical role in green cover and water supply for Sri Lanka. It
hosts evolutionary, botanical, zoological, and environmental research.
Conservation Efforts
Joint
government and private sector programs drive conservation and sustainable development
with eco-tourism as a focus.
Tourism Importance
Horton
Plains is a favored destination for nature lovers, hikers, bird watchers, and
eco-tourists, featuring scenic spots like World’s End and Baker’s Falls with
numerous walking trails.
Sources,
2. Horton Plains National Park
3. Gona Plains, Scientific Exploration (Terence Kahapola Arachchi)
4. BIODIVERSITY BASELINE SURVEY:HORTON PLAINS NATIONAL PARK Contributors: S.M.D. Ajantha U. De Alwis (Fish), P. Nihal Dayawansa (Herpetofauna), Ric How (Data Analysis), B.M.P. Singhakumara (Plants), Devaka Weerakoon (Birds), Mayuri R. Wijesinghe (Mammals), Editor: Michael J.B. Green, March 2007
5. SYNCHRONIZED FLOWERING AND MASTING BEHAVIOR OF STROBILANTHES (NELU), Yasoja Athugala
6. The emergence of early agriculture in the Horton Plains, The emergence of early agriculture in the Horton Plains, central Sri Lanka: linked to late Pleistocene and early central Sri Lanka: linked to late Pleistocene and early Holocene climatic changes Holocene climatic changes. R. Premathilake
7. From wild grass to golden grain: How rice cultivation in Sri Lanka may have been linked to Stone Age man. By Asif Hussein, The Sunday Times.
8. Human used upper montane ecosystem in the Horton Plains, central Sri Lanka - a link to Lateglacial and early Holocene climate and environmental changes, September 2012. Rathnasiri Premathilake, University of Kelaniya
No comments:
Post a Comment