Rivers
The rich network of rivers in Sri Lanka make the island an oasis at any time of year, naturally watering the paradise garden with its splendid heritage. The highest concentration of rivers and lakes is found in the south-west of the country, making it possibly the most fertile area in Sri Lanka.
河流
斯里兰卡的河流起源于中央高地。它们从那里流向平原并最终汇入大海。河流在上游地区通常难以航行,那里水流湍急、穿越严重侵蚀的峡谷进入下游平原。许多河流在下游流经陡峭的悬崖,形成壮观的瀑布。在下游,河流缓慢弯曲,穿过洪泛平原和三角洲。
斯里兰卡最长的河流是马哈维利河,流长约330公里(约205英里)。它从中央高地东北流向,最终在东海岸的特林科马莱港口汇入孟加拉湾。该国第二长的河流是阿拉维阿鲁河,流长约220公里(约135英里),从中央高地流向西北,最终汇入曼纳尔海湾。
斯里兰卡没有天然湖泊。在马哈维利河和其他河流上修建的大坝形成了大型水库。此外,一系列小型水库被称为“水塘”,分布在北中部平原上,储存干季期间的水源。部分水塘的建造历史可以追溯到2000多年前。
斯里兰卡的大部分地区干旱,且只有少数永久性河流。然而,位于西南部的“湿润区”有许多河流,源自岛屿中央高山的高地。这些多样化的流域支持着水生植物、双壳类和鱼类的特有种群。
斯里兰卡的已知淡水物种包括90种鱼类(其中26种为特有种)和21种螃蟹,然而正在进行的研究表明,未描述的物种数量可能相当庞大。
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Malwathu Oya (මල්වතු ඔය)The Malvathu River long river in Sri Lanka, connecting the city of Anuradhapura, which was the capital of the country for over 15 centuries, to the coast of Mannar. It currently ranks as the second longest river in the country, with a great historic significance.
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Kelani River (කැලණි ගඟ)The Kelani River is a 145-kilometre-long (90 mi) river in Sri Lanka. Ranking as the fourth-longest river in the country, it stretches from the Sri Pada Mountain Range to Colombo. It flows through or borders the Sri Lankan districts of Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Gampaha and Colombo.
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Yan Oya (යාන් ඔය)The Yan Oya is the fifth-longest river of Sri Lanka. It measures approximately 142 km (88 mi) in length. Its catchment area receives approximately 2,371 million cubic metres of rain per year, and approximately 17 percent of the water reaches the sea. It has a catchment area of 1,520 square kilometres.
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Walawe River (වලවේ ගඟ)The southern region of Sri Lanka is exalted by a bushel of enthralling and glorified rivers and the Walawe River is one of them. Gently flowing through the Udawalawe National Park, the Walawe River provides water for a multitude of species of mesmerising fauna.
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Kalu Ganga (කළු ගඟ)Kalu Ganga is a river in Sri Lanka. Measuring 129 km (80 mi) in length, the river originates from Sri Padhaya and reach the sea at Kalutara. The Black River flows through the Ratnapura and the Kalutara District and pass the city Ratnapura. The mountainous forests in the Central Province and the Sinharaja Forest Reserve are the main sources of water for the river.
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Maha Oya (මහ ඔය)The Maha Oya is a major stream in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It measures approximately 134 km (83 mi) in length. It runs across four provinces and five districts. Maha Oya has 14 Water supply networks to serve the need of water and more than 1 million people live by the river.
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Gin Ganga (ගිං ගඟ)The Gin Ganga, is a 115.9 km (72 mi) long river situated in Galle District of Sri Lanka. The river's headwaters are located in the Gongala Mountain range, near Deniyaya, bordering the Sinharaja Forest Reserve.
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Kala Oya (කලා ඔය)It was around these ancient tank (water storage reservoir) irrigation systems that the economy and human settlements of early Sri Lankan society were organised into a “hydraulic civilization”.
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Deduru Oya (දැදුරු ඔය)The Deduru Oya Dam is an embankment dam built across the Deduru River in Kurunegala District of Sri Lanka. Built in 2014, the primary purpose of the dam is to retain approximately a billion cubic metres of water for irrigation purposes, which would otherwise flow out to sea.
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Maduru Oya (මාදුරු ඔය)The Maduru Oya is a major stream in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 135 km (84 mi) in length. Its catchment area receives approximately 3,060 million cubic metres of rain per year, and approximately 26 percent of the water reaches the sea.
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Kumbukkan Oya (කුඹුක්කන් ඔය)The Kumbukkan Oya is the twelfth-longest river of Sri Lanka. It is approximately 116 km (72 mi) long. It runs across two provinces and two districts. Its catchment area receives approximately 2,115 million cubic metres of rain per year, and approximately 12 percent of the water reaches the sea.
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Mi Oya (මී ඔය)The Mi oya is a 108 km (67 mi) long river, in North Western of Sri Lanka. It is the fifteenth-longest river in Sri Lanka. It begins in Saliyagama and flows northwest, emptying into the Indian Ocean thru Puttalam.