Physical Landscape and Relief of Sri Lanka

Vocabulary and definitions focusing on the geographical features, relief zones, and specific landforms of Sri Lanka as described in the lecture.

Financa

An island with beautiful landscapes located in the Indian Ocean, consisting of features like mountains, plains, rivers, and various types of vegetation.

Three zones of relief

The division of the island based on altitude: Coastal plain (up to $30\,m$), Intermediate plain ($30\,m$ to $300\,m$), and Central mountains (over $300\,m$).

Coastal plain (Width)

A region along the coast that is about $3\,km$ narrow in the South and about $32\,km$ wide in the North.

Marshes

Formed when sediment brought by rivers is deposited as sandbanks, blocking estuaries and causing water to remain in lowlands due to overflowing rivers; examples include Muthurajavela and Bundala.

Bays

A wider opening of the sea protruding towards the land and filled with saline water, such as Kodiaar Bay and Arugam Bay.

Lagoons

A lengthy stretch of an area filled with brackish water, separated from the sea by sand bars with narrow outlets; examples include Negambo and Jaffna.

Points or headlands

A land area with hard stone that protrudes towards the sea, such as Dondra Head, Fowl Point, and Point Pedro.

Islands

Small areas completely covered with water.

Sea Cliffs

A land area composed of hard rocks standing at an edge of the coast with a steep slope, located in places like Trinkumalli and Kirinda.

Delta

A triangle-shaped land formed by sediment deposits carried by a river close to its mouth, such as near Mahavali Ganga and Mee Oya.

Intermediate plane

An area between $30\,m$ and $300\,m$ in altitude that is wider in the North and narrower towards the South.

Residual Hills

The remains of hard mountains that have been subjected to erosion, such as Kattaragama, Mihintale, and Sigh Giriya.

Principal Mountain Ranges

There are four main ranges in the central peaks: Samanala Mountain Range, Namunukula Mountain Range, Piduruthalagala Kirigalpotha Mountain Range, and Knuckles Mountain Range.

Plateau

An area of flat land at a high elevation, including the Kandy Plateau, Hatton Plateau, Veli Madar Plateau, and Kuslanda Plateau.

Gaps or passes

A low area located between two mountains, such as Haputale, Balana, Galagadhara, and Guinea Gadhana.

Central Hill Waterfalls

Formed as rivers flow across steep slopes or escarpments; examples include Bamarkhandha, Dunhindal, Laxapana, Dilulluma, and Rambodur.