Hikkaduwa Hikkaduwa National Park is one of the two marine national parks in Sri Lanka and one of the scuba diving destinations. The national park contains a fringing coral reef of high degree of biodiversity. 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 19th September 2002. Hikkaduwa coral reef is a typical shallow fringing reef with an average depth of around 5 meters (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. Foliaceous Montipora species dominate the coral reef.] Encrusting and branching species are also present. Faviidae and Poritidae corals are contained in the inshore areas of the reef in massive colonies. Corals of 60 species belonging to 31 genera are recorded from the reef. The reef also recorded over 170 species of reef fish belonging to 76 genera.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 04:13:19 +0000