# Geography & Nature

## A Biodiverse Teardrop

Sri Lanka spans 65,610 square kilometres—roughly the size of Ireland—yet packs extraordinary ecological diversity within its borders[cite: 77]. From the central highlands rising to 2,524 metres to the 1,340 kilometres of coastline, the island is a global biodiversity hotspot[cite: 79, 80, 81].

Central Highlands: Carpeted in cloud forest and tea estates.

Dry Zone: Ancient irrigation and monsoon-fed plains.

Coastline: 1,340km of bays, cliffs, and lagoons.

Horton Plains [cite: 87]

East Coast Mangroves [cite: 87]

Kandy Lake [cite: 87]

## Lived Diversity

A Society of Deep Layers

Home to Sinhalese, Tamil, Moor, Burgher, Malay, and Vedda peoples, Sri Lanka’s diversity is lived daily through Buddhist temple drums echoing next to a mosque's call to prayer[cite: 90, 91, 94].

Vesak Lanterns [cite: 95]

Tamil Pongal [cite: 96]

Eid Prayers [cite: 97]

Indigenous Vedda Elder [cite: 98]