Location: Central Province Map
Area: 3,160 hectares (12.2 sq mi)
Horton Plains National Park (Sinhala: හෝටන් තැන්න)
is a protected area of the central plateaus in Sri Lanka. This area,
covered by mountain grasslands and cloud forest, is located at an
altitude of between 2,100 and 2,300 meters and is rich in
biodiversity, as many species found here are endemic to the region.
In 1988, it was declared a national park and is also a popular
tourist destination due to its location 32 kilometers from Nuwara
Eliya.
The Horton Plains are the sources of Sri Lanka's three
main rivers: Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe. In Sinhala, they are known
as “Mahaweli Plains”. Stone tools dating back to the Balangoda
culture have been found at this place. The vegetation consists of
grasslands interspersed with montane forests, including several
species of endemic woody plants. Large herds of Sri Lankan Sambar
deer, a typical plains species, inhabit the area.
The park is
also an area for bird conservation, with species endemic not only to
Sri Lanka, but unique only to the plains. The gradual extinction of
the forest is one of the main threats to the park and according to
some studies it is caused by a natural phenomenon. The main tourist
attractions of the site are the cliff "The End of the World" and the
Baker Falls. In 2010, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization declared it a World Heritage Site under the
name Central Plateaus of Sri Lanka.
The Horton Plains are located on the southern plateau of the central
mountainous region of Sri Lanka. The peaks of Kirigalpotta (2,389
meters) and Thotapolakanda (2,357 meters), the second and third highest
elevations in the country, are located to the west and north,
respectively. The altitude of the park ranges between 2100 and 2300
meters. Rocks have been found that belong to the Precambrian and are
composed of khondalite, charnockite and granitic gneiss. The soil is of
the red-yellow podsol type and the surface layer is covered with matter
decomposed organic. The average annual precipitation is greater than
2000 millimeters. Cloud cover often reduces the amount of sunlight
available to plants.
The average annual temperature is 13 °C, but
it varies considerably throughout the day: it can reach 27 °C during the
day and 5 °C at night. The wind can reach gale-force intensity during
the monsoon season. Although there is some rainfall throughout the year,
the dry season occurs between January and March, while frost is common
in February. On the other hand, in the rainy season the fog can remain
for most of the day. Multiple ponds and waterfalls can be seen in the
park, it is even considered the most important basin in Sri Lanka. In
this sense, this place is the birthplace of rivers such as the Mahaweli,
Kelani and Walawe. It also feeds other streams such as Belihul Oya, Oya
Agra, Oya Kiriketi, Uma Oya, and Bogawantalawa Oya.
The park was named in honor of Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton, British
governor of Ceylon, who traveled to the area to meet the Ratemahatmaya
of Sabaragamuwa in 1836. Stone tools dating back to the Balangoda
culture have been found here. The local population residing in the
lowlands went up to the mountains to mine gems, iron ore, build an
irrigation canal and cut down trees. Studies with pollen found in a
swamp revealed that at the end of the Quaternary period the area had a
semi-arid climate and a restricted variety of plant species.
After Joseph Dalton Hooker advised British authorities to "leave
undisturbed all Mountain Forests above 5,000 feet," an administrative
order was issued in 1873 preventing logging and clearing of forests in
the region. In this sense, on December 5, 1969 it was designated a
natural reserve and on March 16, 1988 it became a national park. In the
west, adjacent to the park, is the Pico Wilderness Protected Area. The
Horton Plains, covering 3,160 hectares, contain one of the largest areas
of cloud forest in Sri Lanka.
In July 2010, the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization declared Sri Lanka's
Central Tablelands, which include Horton Plains National Park, the Peak
Wilderness Protected Area, a World Heritage Site and to Knuckles
Conservation Forest.
The park's vegetation has two distinctive forms, namely 2000
hectares of wet grassland, called patana in Sinhala, and 1160
hectares of subtropical evergreen montane rainforest (Sri Lanka
submontane and montane rain forests). Almost 750 plant species from
20 plant families were counted. The trees of the forests reach a
height of twenty meters and consist mainly of Calophyllum walkeri
together with myrtle species such as Syzygium rotundifolium and
Syzygium scerophyllum and laurel plants such as Ceylon cinnamon tree
(Cinnamomum ceylonaicum) and Actinodaphne speciosa. The subsurface
thicket is covered with the acanthus plant Strobilanthes sp.
overgrown and prevents the formation of a herb layer. Dwarf bamboo
plants such as Indocalamus spp. and Ochlandra spp. can be found
here. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa bushes grow mainly on forest edges and
near mountain peaks. Species such as Gordonia sp. and Rhododendron
arboreum ssp. zeylanicum have spread from southern India and the
Himalayas to Sri Lanka and are now native here. 54 tree species were
counted, half of which are endemic. The trunks and branches of the
trees are covered with many species of ferns, club moss
(Lycopodium), lichens and orchids. The beard lichen (Usnea barbata)
hangs down from the branches. About 16 species of orchids are only
found here. Other notable plants include the mockberry Gaultheria
fragrantissima, Exacum walkeri, sundew (Drosera indica) and the West
Indian tree fern (Cyathea arborea). It was only in 2007 that the
lichen Anzia sp. (from the order Lecanorales) discovered here.
Frequent bushfires and intensive grazing characterize the
grassland flora. It is dominated by the sweet grasses Arundinella
villosa and Chrysopogon zeylanicus. In low-lying areas there are
swamps and watercourses with Jacobsen's water spikes (Aponogeton
jacobsenii), flooding moor rushes (Isolepsis fluitans) and
watersuckers (Utricularia sp.). The bamboo Chimonobambusa densifolia
thrives along the water banks, and grass species such as rushes
(Juncus prismatocarpus) grow in the swamp areas. , Garnotia patula
var. mutica, Eriocaulon sp. and the blue-flowering bitterleaf
(Exacum trinervium). Stiff tussocks of Chrysopogon zeylanicus and
Cymbopogon confertiflorus are found in moist valleys. The perennial
flora includes species from genera that are widespread in temperate
zones, such as buttercup (Ranunculus), ragwort (Senecio), gentian
(Gentiana), lady's mantle (Alchemilla) and louseweed (Pedicularis),
but also tropical species such as Eriocaulonsp. and Ipsea speciosa.
The most common are boreal herbaceous plants such as species of
violet (Viola), lobelia (Lobelia), blackberry (Gaultheria),
strawberry (Fragaria) and plantain (Plantago).
There are
conflicting views on how the grasslands came to be, whether
naturally or man-made. It is now believed to have originated on dry
slopes through clear-cutting and slash-and-burn agriculture, while
at lower elevations it developed through moisture, frost and soil
erosion.
The region's vertebrate fauna contains 24 mammal species, 87 bird
species, nine reptile and eight amphibian species. In the late 1940s,
the Sri Lanka elephant (Elephas maximus maximus) disappeared from the
area. Today the largest and most commonly seen mammal is the sambar
(Rusa unicolor). The population is estimated at 1,500 to 2,000 animals,
which pushes the park to its limits. Other mammals include Western
Ceylon monkey (Macaca sinica aurifrons), Kelaart's long-clawed shrew
(Feroculus feroculus), white-bearded langur (Trachypithecus vetulus),
rusty cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), Sri Lankan leopard (Panthera
pardus kotiya), wild boar (Sus scrofa), Banded mongoose (Herpestes
vitticollis), Indian squirrel (Moschiola indica), Indian muntjac
(Muntiacus muntjak) and Sri Lankan giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura).
Fishing cat (Prionailurus viverrinus) and Eurasian river otter (Lutra
lutra) visit the wetlands to hunt aquatic animals. The Red Slender
Lorikeet (Loris tardigradus nycticeboides) was discovered in 1937. It
only lives in the highlands of Sri Lanka and is considered one of the
world's most endangered primates. In July 2010, a group of researchers
from the Zoological Society of London managed to photograph a male
specimen for the first time.
Horton Plains are one of the most
important IBAs (Important Bird Areas) in Sri Lanka. Together with the
neighboring Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, the park is home to 21 species of
birds unique to this island. Four of them, African kitten (Urocissa
ornata), Ceylon flycatcher (Eumyias sordidus), Ceylon spectacled bird
(Zosterops ceylonensis) and Ceylon dove (Columba torringtonii) are only
found in Horton Plains. Other endemic species are ceylon spurhuhn
(Galloperdix Bicalcarata), Ceylonhuhn (Gallus Lafayetii), gold stinging
beard (megalaima flavifrons), ceylon throssling (turdoid rufescens),
Ceylon bush singer (elaphroris pallisi) and ceylon whistle (myophic Onus
Blighi), which was discovered in 1868. Many birds such as the common
swift (Apus apus) migrate in the winter. Birds of prey include the snake
harrier (Spilornis cheela), Nepal-crested eagle (Nisaetus nipalensis),
gliding eel (Elanus caeruleus) and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus).
The Yellow-crowned Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) and the Mountain
Bronze Man (Lonchura kelaarti) are widespread.
Sri Lanka is
considered a herpetologist's paradise worldwide. Fifteen species of
amphibians are believed to inhabit Horton Plains National Park,
including Microhyla zeylanica and Ramanella palmata from the
narrow-mouth frog family, Zakerana greenii, Rana gracilis, and rowing
frogs such as Ceylonese rowing frog (Philautus microtympanum), Philautus
alto, Philautus femoralis, Philautus frankenbergi and Philautus schmarda
as well as Polypedates eques. Agamas such as the black-lipped fairy
lizard (Calotes nigrilabris), the horned dragon (Ceratophora
stoddartii), the Ceylon pigeon lizard (Cophotis ceylanica), the smooth
lizard Lankascincus taprobanensis, the wolf-toothed snake Aspidura
trachyprocta and the Indian rat snake Ptyas mucosus were observed. There
are, among other things, two species of fish in the park, carp (Cyprinus
carpio) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), both of which have been
introduced by humans. Horton Plains is also home to many endemic
shellfish such as Caridina sinhalensis and Perbrinckia species. The
cold-water shrimp Caridina sinhalensis is only found in waters with
temperatures below 15 °C.
Horton Plains is a popular tourist destination and generates
significant revenue for the state. The park can be reached via two roads
(Nuwara Eliya-Ambewela-Pattipola or Haputale-Boralanda). Railway
stations on the Colombo-Badulla railway line are located in Ohiya,
Ambewela and Pattipola, the latter of which is the highest in Sri Lanka
at 1891 meters.
The park's most famous attraction is World's End,
a cliff of over 870 m that, on a clear day (early morning), offers a
view as far as the sea to the south. Not far from there is a second
cliff 270 m high, Small World’s End. As the temperature increases,
clouds often rise, obstructing the view of the plains.
The
Baker’s Falls waterfalls are another attraction. They arise from the
Belihul Oya River, a tributary of the Walawe, and are about 20 meters
high. They were named after the hunter and explorer Sir Samuel Baker,
founder of the city of Nuwara Eliya, which lies north of the park. Slab
Rock Falls is another well-known waterfall. In the south below the high
plateau lies the Samanalawewa Dam.
The national park is surrounded by a 1.6 km wide statutory buffer
zone. Of the propagative plant species such as bracken (Pteridium
aquilinum) and Pennisetum spp. In the protected area, gorse (Ulex
europaeus) is particularly a problem. By 2012, 22 of the 30 hectares
affected had been removed. The introduced rainbow trout may displace
endemic fish, amphibian and crustacean species. Some sambar deer died
from eating polythene waste, so visitors are not allowed to bring
plastic bags into the park; At the entrance your luggage will be
searched for PET bottles.
Horton Plains was a hunting ground for
sambar deer between 1831 and 1948, when Sri Lanka declared independence,
and to a lesser extent elephants and wild boars were also shot. During
this time, lower slopes were initially cleared for coffee plantations
and later for tea plantations. Potatoes were grown in the grassland, but
this was abandoned in 1977. After Horton Plains was declared a national
park, these fields were converted back into meadows.
Tourism-related problems such as plant theft, waste pollution, fire and
noise are the main environmental protection issues today. Gemstone
mining, logging, collecting plants for medicinal purposes, poaching and
tourist traffic are other threats.
A danger first described in
1978 is forest dieback. In some areas, especially in the outskirts, this
has affected almost half of the vegetation. The main reason for this is
lack of water, as droughts have become more frequent in recent years.
Reforestation is hampered by frost, which is becoming increasingly
severe. The phenomenon has affected 22 plant species, with Calophyllum
walkeri suffering the most. A study suspects that low lime deposits
cause acidification of the soil and increased concentrations of toxins
caused by metallic trace elements such as aluminum promote plant death
and the leaching of nutrients.