Geography of Sri Lanka
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 Map of Sri Lanka |
 Map of Asia showing the location of Sri Lanka |
Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, southeast of India
Geographic coordinates: Template:Coor dm
Map references: Asia
Area:
total:
65,610 km²
land:
64,740 km²
water:
870 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,340 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nautical miles (44 km)
continental shelf:
200 nautical miles (370 km) or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nautical miles (370 km)
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles (22 km)
Climate: tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)
Terrain: mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Elevation extremes:
lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
Natural resources: limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower
Land use:
arable land:
14%
permanent crops:
15%
permanent pastures:
7%
forests and woodland:
32%
other:
32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 5,500 km² (1993 est.)
Natural hazards: occasional cyclones, tornadoes and tsunamis
Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified:
Marine Life Conservation
Geography notes
Topography_of_sri_lanka.jpg
- Strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes.
- Adam's Bridge, a land connection to the Indian mainland that according to Hindu mythology was constructed during the rule of Rama, is now mostly submerged with only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level. According to temple records this natural causeway was formerly complete, but was breached by a violent storm (probably a cyclone) in 1480.