An Inland wetland of Man-made origin located in the Dry Zone of the North-Central province. Nuwarawewa is a large, ancient, freshwater reservoir that was constructed in the first century BC, and forms a part of an interconnected cascading system of tanks located in the Malwatu Oya catchment of the upper Aruvi Aru basin. The tank is located within the ancient city of Anuradhapura , which is an area of high archeological, historical and religious importance. The natural vegetation can be subdivided into aquatic vegetation types associated with the tank, the river and the upland woodland vegetation. The only substantial areas of treed landscape are within the blocks of forest plantation (predominantly teak, with some Eucalyptus). 36 fish, 5 amphibians (older records indicate 17), 36 reptiles, 41 mammals and 152 bird species have been recorded. Freshwater fish are dominated by exotics (Oreochromis mossambicus and Labeo rohita) which are commercially important. Clarias brachysoma and Puntius singhala are two noteworthy endemic species. The large, open water body is an ideal habitat for water birds such as Pelecanus philippensis, Anhinga melanogaster, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis and Haliaeetus leucogaster. Mammals include Macaca sinica, Paradoxurus zeylonensis, Lutra lutra, Herpestes vitticolis and Prionailurus viverrinus. The noteworthy flora include endemics such as Canthium dicoccum, Ochna obtusata, Alangium salviifolium, Mixeomwlum minurum, Drypetes lanceolata, Mangifera zeylanica and Gymnosporia emarginata. Anuradhapura is rich in history as it was the first metropolis of the country, and was founded by Anuradha in the sixth century BC. In ancient chronicles Nuwarawewa is referred to as Nagara Vapi (city reservoir), and was probably constructed by king Watta Gamini Abhaya in the first century BC.

Nuwarawewa Tank Related references