The scenery in Sri Lanka ranges from fertile lowlands in the southwest to dry plains in the north, east and south, and even desert areas. In 1881 still 84% of the island was covered with forests, in 2002 this percentage was decreased to 19%. The central part of the island is mountainous intersected by deep valleys. There are some high mountain peaks, Pidurutalagala of Mount Pedro is the highest with its 2524 meter. Other high peaks are Kirigalpotta (2394 m), the Totapalakanda (2356 m) and the sacred Sri Pada (Samanalakanda) or Adam's Peak (2243 m). The coastline is generally flat and regular, with some lagoons, reefs and bays. The coastal plains in the south are smaller (50-60 km) than those in the north. The far north of Sri Lanka consists of the Jaffna peninsula, surrounded by a number of islands. The peninsula is a narrow sandbar, the Elephant Pass, which connects Jaffna to the rest of the island.
