Location - Southern province, Sri Lanka
Nearest city - Hikkaduwa
Coordinates - 6°08′42″N 80°05′33″E / 6.145°N 80.0925°ECoordinates: 6°08′42″N 80°05′33″E / 6.145°N 80.0925°E
Area - 101.6 ha
Established - September 19 2002
Governing body - Department of Wildlife Conservation
Hikkaduwa National Park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 18, 1979, and then on August 14, 1988, upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area. The growth of the number of visitors in the next 25 years increased the degradation of the coral reef. To reduce the effects to the ecosystem, the reef was declared a national park on September 19, 2002.
Coral reef
Hikkaduwa coral reef is a typical shallow fringing reef with an average depth of around 5 metres (16 ft). The coral reef reduces the coastal erosion and forms a natural breakwater. The coast of the national park extends four km. Generally the coast is narrow, ranging from 5-50 m according to the climatic conditions of the year. Scuba diving is a popular recreation here.
Nearest city - Hikkaduwa
Coordinates - 6°08′42″N 80°05′33″E / 6.145°N 80.0925°ECoordinates: 6°08′42″N 80°05′33″E / 6.145°N 80.0925°E
Area - 101.6 ha
Established - September 19 2002
Governing body - Department of Wildlife Conservation
Hikkaduwa National Park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. The area was declared a wildlife sanctuary on May 18, 1979, and then on August 14, 1988, upgraded to a nature reserve with extended land area. The growth of the number of visitors in the next 25 years increased the degradation of the coral reef. To reduce the effects to the ecosystem, the reef was declared a national park on September 19, 2002.
Coral reef
Hikkaduwa coral reef is a typical shallow fringing reef with an average depth of around 5 metres (16 ft). The coral reef reduces the coastal erosion and forms a natural breakwater. The coast of the national park extends four km. Generally the coast is narrow, ranging from 5-50 m according to the climatic conditions of the year. Scuba diving is a popular recreation here.
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