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Sri Lanka Cities with Hotels
 Sri Lanka, formerly Ceylon, island republic
in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of India, a member of the
Commonwealth of Nations. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait
and Gulf of Mannar. Lying between the two nations is a chain of tiny islands
known as Adam's Bridge. Sri Lanka is somewhat pear-shaped, with its apex in the
north. The greatest length from north to south is about 440 km (about 273 mi);
the greatest width is about 220 km (about 137 mi). The total area of Sri Lanka
is 65,610 sq km (25,332 sq mi). The administrative capital of Sri Lanka is Sri
Jayavardhanapura (Kotte); and Colombo is the commercial capital and largest
city.
 Some of the hotels, motels and resorts available for
booking in our reservation network include, Ramada Inn, Marriott Hotels, Super 8
Motels, Econo Lodge, Holiday Inn & Holiday Inn Express, Travelodge, Hampton Inn,
Sheraton, Hilton, Best Western, Hyatt and Hyatt Regency, Wyndham Inn, Ritz and
Ritz Carlton, Days Inn, Courtyard by Marriott, La Quinta Inns, Comfort Inn and
Comfort Suite, Embassy Suites, Quality Inn, Radisson Inn, Sleep Inn, Numerous
Resorts and Resort Villas throughout the globe, along with Plaza and Plaza
Suites and and array of private and Golf Clubs and Golf Resorts.
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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's coast, particularly the west,
south, and southeast, is palm-fringed and indented by lagoons and inlets. The
more rugged northeastern coast contains Trincomalee Harbor, considered one of
the best natural harbors in the world. On the southwestern coast other harbors
include the largely artificial one at Colombo and one at Galle.
Land and Resources
An outstanding feature of the topography of Sri Lanka is a
mountainous mass in the south central part of the country, the highest point of
which is the peak of Pidurutalagala (2524 m/8281 ft). In the upland area are two
plateaus, Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains, which are major centers of commercial
tea plantations. The plateaus are noted for their cool, healthful climate. North
of the mountains, and extending south, is an arid and gently rolling plain known
as the dry zone.
Rivers and streams that are broken by rapids are especially
numerous in the mountainous south central region. The longest river is the
Mahaweli Ganga, which empties into the Indian Ocean south of Trincomalee. Other
rivers include the Kelani, the mouth of which is near Colombo; the Kalu, which
reaches the sea near Kalutara on the southwestern coast; and the Aruvi Aru,
which flows northwest across the dry zone to a point near Mannar.
Climate
Because Sri Lanka is situated near the equator, the climate
is generally hot and humid. The hill and mountain areas, however, are cool, and
the humidity is relatively lower in the dry zone. The average annual temperature
is 32.2° C (about 90° F) in the lowlands and 21.1° C (about 70° F) in the higher
mountainous regions.
Precipitation is characterized by wide seasonal and regional
variations. The monsoon season in the southwest is from May to November, at
which time the rainfall is exceptionally heavy. In the northern dry zone the
main precipitation of about 1016 mm (about 40 in) annually occurs during the
monsoon season, which begins in the first week of November. Most crops in the
dry zone, however, require irrigation. The hills and the lowlands of the
southwestern section, which is known as the wet zone, normally have some
rainfall throughout the year, but peaks occur in May and June and in October and
November.
"Sri Lanka," Microsoft® Encarta® 97 Encyclopedia.
© 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Last Revised:
December 03, 2008 01:01 PM. |
