Sri Lankan Geography, Sri Lanka Geography
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Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Geographic coordinates: 7 00 N, 81 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area: Total: 65,610 sq km land: 64,740 sq km water: 870 sq km
Area - comparative: Slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,340 km
Maritime claims: Territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
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: 13.86% permanent crops: 15.7% other: 70.44% (2001)
Irrigated land: 6,510 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: Occasional cyclones and tornadoes
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Geography - note: Strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
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The information here has been derived from Public Domain Sources such as the CIA World Factbook. No liability can be taken for any inaccuracies.
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The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa...