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Plainly breathtaking
By Lankika de Livera
Horton Plains, about 2300 metres above sea level is the highest plain in the country. Now a 3160-hectare national park, one finds here not only wild life but the famed scenic spots of Mini World’s End, Greater World’s End and Baker’s Falls amidst the patna grasslands and pygmy and montane forests.
The green grassy slopes, the wind-battered vegetation and the sparkling blue and gurgling little streamlets and water pools, make Horton Plains extremely picturesque.

Tributaries of the Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe rivers are dependent on the waters of Horton Plains. The aquatic systems here are marsh, montane marsh, ponds, streams and waterfalls.

The west of Horton Plains connects to the Peak Wilderness sanctuary in which Adam’s Peak is situated. The Kirigalpoththa peak trail, which is a 2-3 hour trek and the Thotupola Kanda trek which is a 45-minute trek can be done from Horton Plains with prior permission obtained from the Wildlife Department.

The wind whips and whistles around on days when it is cloudy, misty and rainy, and then the drop from the two World’s Ends cannot be seen. But on the rare sunny days, one may have a panoramic view of the drop of 274 and 884 metres from Mini World’s End and Greater World’s End respectively. The entire scenario spreads out like a one-inch map, mountains and slopes resembling a miniature model of a landscape. Roads and vegetation seem like a patchwork blanket and reservoirs far away like small blue ponds. It takes your breath away.

From Greater World’s End, one can see the Uda Walawe Reservoir, the Samanalawewa project, the Sabaragamuwa University and the Balangoda Road. Since it was declared a National Park and also due to the fire that raged within the park some years ago, vehicles are permitted only up to the ticket office. Sightseeing has to be done on foot. It is believed that the fires, which used to occur many times a year were caused by visitors.

In recent years, over-visitation to this park has posed a major threat. Littering, destroying plants and flowers, and misbehaviour are the main causes of destruction. On a recent visit, we witnessed groups of young boys shouting and hooting along the paths leading from the Greater World’s End to Baker’s Falls. The hoots were being returned by another group on the other side of the mountain. The sounds rang loud and clear in the stillness and echoed round and round, disturbing the birds and the tranquility of the atmosphere.
At the park office, a bus drove up with a group playing musical instruments like cymbals and drums, and singing loudly.

The World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Dr. Channa Bambaradeniya says there is a plethora of problems threatening this park, such as littering, illegal gem mining, the spread of invasive and alien animals and plants. He stressed that vehicle traffic to the park especially had to be regulated as it was having an effect on the air. “Horton Plains has such a fragile eco-system” he lamented.
Even overseas, in parks where there is over-visitation, the authorities have a controlled system where only a certain number of visitors are allowed for a day, so as to safeguard the place.

It is up to the authorities and the media to educate the public as to the proper code of conduct in such places.

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