What is Udawalawe Reservoir?

The Udawalawe Reservoir is a huge man-made lake, built in 1969 by damming the Walawe River to make hydroelectric power and also sustain local farming. It spans more than 3,400 hectares, and it serves as the ecological anchor of the national park.

Because this is permanent water, Udawalawe keeps a really high density of elephants plus a steady presence of birds throughout the year. The deep blue surface, set against the dry savannah and the far-off mountain ridges, gives a few of the most memorable scenery views in southern Sri Lanka.