Rainforests

Amazingly, more than half of all plant and animal species on Earth reside in rainforests, which occupy only 6% of the planet's surface. They are referred to as "rainforests because they experience a lot of rainfall each year. Rainforest has a hot, humid atmosphere and is made up of towering, dense foliage. In Sri Lanka, the woods once covered about 26% of the territory, but they now only cover 2% of the country.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that Sinharaja has been designated as a World Heritage Site and that all rainforests on the island have been declared protected areas. The designation of "World Heritage Site" is given by UNESCO and denotes that the region has been recognized as having extraordinary value to the collective human heritage. Therefore, preserving and safeguarding such landmarks is in the best interests of humanity. Sri Lanka's rainforests are a veritable treasure trove of natural beauty and variety.

The western and southern slopes of Sri Lanka's mountains are home to the majority of the island's rainforests, which are well worth exploring. Peak Wilderness, Knuckles, and the Sinharaja World Heritage Site, each covering 250 km2, 175 km2, and 90 km2, respectively, are Sri Lanka's three most well-known rainforests. These rainforests are home to the elusive loris, the stately elephant, and the fierce-eyed leopard.

Peak Wilderness Sanctuary
The Peak Wilderness Sanctuary, which is the third-largest natural reserve in Sri Lanka, is a tropical rainforest that gets its name from the nearby Adams Peak, Horton Plains, Pidhurutalagala, and Hakgala. The Adenomus kandianus, the world's rarest toad, which had been assumed to be extinct for 133 years, was rediscovered in this jungle in 2009.

Knuckles
With the Mahaveli Valley dividing it from the Central Hills on the south and east and the Matale Valley doing the same on the west, the Knuckles Mountain range encompasses portions of Kandy and Matale. The mountain range was given the name Knuckles because it resembles a closed fist. Its significance is derived from its crystal-clear water, cloud forests, and distinctive flora and wildlife.

Sinharaja World Heritage
The Sinharaja rainforest, a national park, and hub for biodiversity in Sri Lanka have been recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This reserve is a treasure trove of indigenous species, including reptiles, birds, mammals, insects, and plants. It is a portion of Sri Lanka's lowland rainforests. These gorgeous woodlands, with their extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, are tough to leave behind. You must go on a forest trip through these magnificent rainforests in Sri Lanka if you want to fully appreciate the country's breathtaking natural splendor.