Wasgamuwa National Park

Wasgamuwa National Park is a natural park in Sri Lanka situated in the Matale and Polonnaruwa Districts . It was declared to protect and to make a refuge for the displaced wild animals during the Mahaweli Development Project in 1984 and is one of the four National Parks designated under the Project.^[1] Originally it was designated as a nature reserve in 1938, and then in the early 1970s the area was regraded as a strict nature reserve.^[2] Wasgamuwa is one of protected areas where Sri Lankan Elephants can be seen in large herds. It is also one of the Important Bird Areas in Sri Lanka. The name of the Wasgamuwa has derived through the words "Walas Gamuwa".^[3] "Walasa" is Sinhala for sloth bear and "Gamuwa" means a wood. The park is situated 225 km away from Colombo.^[4]

 

Physical features

The National Park's annual daily temperature is 28 °C (82 °F) and has a dry zone climate.^[1] Annual rainfall ranges between 1650–2100 mm. Rain is received during the north-eastern monsoon, from October to January.^[4] July–September is the dry season. Highest elevation of the National Park is Sudu Kanda (White mountain), which is 470 metres (1,540 ft) of height. The soil of the national park contains quartz and marble. The forests of Wasgamuwa represent Sri Lanka dry-zone dry evergreen forests.^[5] The park consists of primary, secondary, riverine forests and grasslands.

^{http://www.dwc.gov.lk/library/Np_wasgamuwa.html}