Discover-SriLanka: reptiles

DISCOVER - SRI LANKA: PROLOGUE

IN PRAISE OF MY BEAUTIFUL ISLAND,

INFORMATION, PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO.

THE 13th CENTURY VENETIAN TRAVELER MARCO POLO DESCRIBED THE ISLAND AS 'THE JADE PENDANT IN THE INDIAN OCEAN'. THE ABUNDANCE OF GEMSTONES, SPICES, RAIN FORESTS AND WILDLIFE; THE MAGNIFICENT BEACHES, ANCIENT RUINS AND A WRITTEN HISTORY OF OVER 2500 YEARS MAKE THIS ISLAND A TOURISTS' PARADISE.

THE RUINED CITIES OF ANURADHAPURA AND POLONNARUWA ILLUSTRATE THE GLORY OF THE ANCIENT KINGDOMS. THE GIGANTIC STUPAS AND BUDDHA STATUES ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST MAN MADE STRUCTURES OF THE WORLD. THE MASSIVE RESERVOIRS, BUILT BY ANCIENT KINGS TO IRRIGATE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND, ARE MARVELS OF HYDRO ENGINEERING. THERE ARE EIGHT UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN SRI LANKA

THE ISLAND WAS KNOWN TO THE GREEKS AS 'TAPROBANE' AND TO THE ARABS AS 'SERENDIB'. EARLY MERCHANTS VISITED THE ISLAND IN SEARCH OF GEMSTONES AND SPICES, MAINLY CINNAMON AND PEPPER. COFFEE AND TEA PLANTATIONS WERE STARTED BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL RULERS. CEYLON TEA IS FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER.

TOURISM INDUSTRY IS A MAJOR MONEY SPINNER FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL ISLAND. THE VAST EXPANSE OF BEACHES, RAIN FORESTS AND NATIONAL PARKS WITH HERDS OF WILD ELEPHANTS, THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS WITH LITHE WATER FALLS, BRING IN THE TOURISTS. THE ISLAND IS DOTTED WITH HUNDREDS OF HOTELS TO ACCOMMODATE THE TRAVELER. AN ISLAND OF 25,000 SQ; MILES HAS 103 RIVERS AND 25000 RESERVOIRS, MOSTLY MAN MADE. WITH VARYING CLIMATIC CONDITIONS THIS IS TRULY A 'SMALL MIRACLE'.

" THE ISLAND OF SRI LANKA IS A SMALL UNIVERSE, IT CONTAINS AS MANY VARIATIONS OF CULTURE, SCENERY AND CLIMATE AS SOME COUNTRIES A DOZEN TIMES ITS SIZE........I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANY COUNTRY WHICH SCORES SO HIGHLY IN ALL DEPARTMENTS - WHICH HAVE SO MANY ADVANTAGES AND SO FEW DISADVANTAGES. LOVELY BEACHES, BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES, IMPRESSIVE RUINS, A VIBRANT CULTURE AND CHARMING PEOPLE- NO WONDER SRI LANKA IS A SMALL MIRACLE ".***** Arthur C. Clark *****

Showing posts with label reptiles. Show all posts

28 April, 2021

Sri Lanka - Chameleon[The green one]

Pics by - NelPhotography

Sony a6000

23 August, 2014

SRI LANKA - REPTILES [RAT SNAKE]

Rat snakes were thought to be nonvenomous but recent studies have shown that they possess small amounts of venom, harmless to humans. This four and a half footer was photographed, basking in the sun, in my garden.

Photographed by: Nelsonlanka

Canon EOS 600D

23 February, 2013

SRI LANKA - SNAKES [ GERADA PREVOSTIANA ]

The harmless cat eyed water snake [ local - gerandia ] is found throughout the Island and it is very often mistaken as a venomous snake. It tears its prey into small pieces instead of swallowing whole like other snakes.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

18 July, 2011

SRI LANKA - CAYMAN

Gerrit and Netty with reptiles on their shoulders!

Pics by : Gerrit,Netty,Hans and Hanneke [ Belgium ]

Sri Lanka Tour, May 2011

16 June, 2011

SRI LANKA - REPTILES [ CAYMAN ]

These photographs were taken on the boat safari on the Madu 'ganga' [river], in Balapitiya in the Southern Province, there are 68 islands on this World Heritage Site. A haven for wildlife, teeming with cayman, birds, fresh water fish and prawn. The newly hatched cayman, fed and tamed are kept by villagers to provide amusement to visitors to the site.

Pics by : Gerrit,Netty,Hans and Hanneke [ Belgium ]

Sri Lanka Tour, May 2011

04 June, 2011

SRI LANKA - THE TORTOISE

Tortoises generally have long lifespans and some are known to have lived longer than 150 years. Because of this, they symbolize longevity in some cultures, such as China.

Pics by : Nelsonlanka

Sony DSC H7

27 May, 2011

SRI LANKA - REPTILES [ SKINK ]

Most skink are medium sized with a length, [ from the snout to the tip of the tail ], of about 12 cm (4.7 in), although there are a few that grow to larger sizes, They are generally carnivorous and feed on small insects.