Horton Plains National Park is a crucial high-altitude plateau in Sri Lanka’s central highlands. It forms the headwaters of three major Sri Lankan rivers: the Mahaweli, Kelani, and Walawe.
The cloud forests trap mist and heavy rainfall in moss and organic soils, slowly releasing clear water to regulate downstream flow and prevent floods or dry-season droughts. Over half of the nation’s population depends on this catchment area for drinking water, agriculture, and hydroelectric power generation.
