Originally, the
villagers called
this region the
“Dumbara Kanduvetiya”
meaning “Misty
mountains”.
The area was named
as ‘Knuckles
‘ by British
Surveyors, due to
a prominent landscape
feature –
a group of five
peaks that resembles
the knuckles of
a clenched fist,
seen from, many
points in the area
east and north-east
of Kandy. The five
peaks, extending
from West to South-east
includes Kirigalpottha
(1642m), Gombaniya
(1900m), Knuckles
(1852m), Koboneelagala
(1544m) and Dotulugala
(1564m), respectively.
From Corbats
gap in
the south, another
ridge enters north
east wards, more
or less parallel
to the Kalupahana
range.
Corbet was the surveyor who mapped the area in the second part of the 19th century. This ridge is dominated by Dumbanagala (‘Misty rock 1642m) and Galtuna (3 rocks) it inturn meets the north west trending Telambugala (1332m) Welangala (1181m) ridge, is the finest peak of the whole.
There is the Matter-horn like mountain of Kehelpathdoruwa (1530m) the sides of which are scooped out as if by ice, with knife edge and ridges running up the sides.
Corbet’s view is located between Dotulugala-Kobanilagala range and Dumbanagala – Kehelpathdoruwa range on the eastern slopes from the Corbets gap at an elevation of 3250ft (985 m)
Corbet was the surveyor who mapped the area in the second part of the 19th century. This ridge is dominated by Dumbanagala (‘Misty rock 1642m) and Galtuna (3 rocks) it inturn meets the north west trending Telambugala (1332m) Welangala (1181m) ridge, is the finest peak of the whole.
There is the Matter-horn like mountain of Kehelpathdoruwa (1530m) the sides of which are scooped out as if by ice, with knife edge and ridges running up the sides.
Corbet’s view is located between Dotulugala-Kobanilagala range and Dumbanagala – Kehelpathdoruwa range on the eastern slopes from the Corbets gap at an elevation of 3250ft (985 m)
The Knuckles forest
region is an important
watershed, with
several streams
draining into lower
Mahaweli system
(eg. Hasakala Oya,
Maha Oya, and Heen
Ganga), south-west
into the upper Mahaweli
system, (eg. Huluganga),
and north-west into
the Amban Ganga
system (eg. Teligam
Oya and Kalu Ganga). The Knuckles catchment
area contributes
to about 30% of
the water in Victoria,
Randenigala and
Rantambe reservoirs
of the river Mahaweli.
The location of the Knuckles forest region in the Intermediate Climatic Zone in the island has resulted in a wide range of rainfall and temperature in different parts of the region. The highland areas of the Knuckles forest range is extremely wet throughout the year, with an average annual rainfall of about 5000mm, while the lower eastern slopes are much drier, with less than 2500mm. the area is also exposed to strong winds during May to October which can reach as high as 60 mph (90 kmph), the temperature in this region is an average 24 C.
The wide range of
climatic and landscape
features in the
Knuckles region
has resulted in
a variety of natural
vegetation types,
ranging from lowland
semi-evergreen forests
to mountain forests.
These vegetation
types harbour a
rich composition
of animal and plants,
some of which are
unique to Sri Lanka.
Although the hill ranges remain as uninhabited wilderness, traditional human settlements occur along the river valleys. The villagers are involved in the cultivation of paddy in terraced fields, supplemented with the chena cultivation. Commercial plantation of tea and cardamom are also located within the knuckles forest range. Patches of plantation forest, dominated by Pinus, are located in areas bordering the Knuckles region.
Although the hill ranges remain as uninhabited wilderness, traditional human settlements occur along the river valleys. The villagers are involved in the cultivation of paddy in terraced fields, supplemented with the chena cultivation. Commercial plantation of tea and cardamom are also located within the knuckles forest range. Patches of plantation forest, dominated by Pinus, are located in areas bordering the Knuckles region.
The biological and
hydrological value
of the Knuckles
forest region was
recognized more
than a century ago,
when the areas above
1500m in the Knuckles
range was declared
as a climatic reserve
in 1873. Since then,
the area has received
legal conservation
status under the
Forest Ordinance,
administered by
the Forest Department
of Sri Lanka. In
1987, the Ministry
of Lands, Irrigation
and Mahaweli Development
and the Forest Department
initiated a project
to enhance the conservation
of Knuckles forest
region, with technical
assistance from
IUCN – The
World Conservation
Union. This project
was intended to
demarcate the boundaries
of the Knuckles
protected area,
and identify critical
management issues
that are relevant
for planning the
sustainable management
of Knuckles forest
region. Upon the
successful completion
of this project,
the Knuckles forest
was declared as
a Conservation Forest
(an extent of 17,500
ha) by the Government
in April 2000. Subsequently,
the whole area was
declared as a
National Man and
Biosphere Reserve.
The Knuckles forest
reserve has also
been nominated for
declaration as an
International
Man and Biosphere
Reserve
and a Natural
World Heritage Site.
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