Flora and Fauna - Horton Plains
The Horton Plain is a plateau more than 200 m high. It consists of grasslands, interspersed with areas of forest and some unusual vegetation that grows only in high altitudes. From here rise Sri Lanka's second and third highest mountains. The plains afford some excellent, silent walks.
The most amazing feature of the Horton Plains is the World's End where the southern part of the plains comes to a sudden end and drops almost straight down for 700 m. Dawn is the ideal time to view this site. The mountains are free of mist and the sun is just rising.
The dense forests are home to deer, jackal, the shaggy bear-monkey, sambhur and the occasional leopard.
The plains are popular with bird watchers. Birds include Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Orange-billed Babbler, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon Hill Munia, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Pied Bush-Chat, Grey Tit and Ceylon Whistling Thrush.
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