Horton Plains is a plateau with a unique and fragile ecosystem located 2,150m above sea level. These tranquil grassy woodlands endlessly swept by crisp, sharp, biting winds are home to endemic highland birds, leopards and Sāmbhar deer. Horton Plains covers a land area of 3,160 hectares (12.2 sq. mi). It contains the most extensive part of the cloud forest in Sri Lanka. Considered the most prized watershed in the country it holds the headwaters of three major Sri Lankan rivers, the Mahaweli, Kelani and Walawe. The plateau drops abruptly by 1650 meters at the “Worlds End” the only plausible description that fits the frightening abyss below, often covered by a mystic mist. On a clear day, it offers a spectacular view that extends up to the distant Indian Ocean.
