Sri Lanka · national park
Yala National Park
Yala National Park is a national park in Sri Lanka, established in 1937, covering 979 km² (378 sq mi). It is the #3 largest of Sri Lanka's 26 national parks.
- Area
- 979 km²
- Established
- 1937
- IUCN
- II: National Park
- Nearest airport
- HRI · 51 km
Nearest airports to Yala National Park
- 1 HRI51 kmstraight line
- 2 BTC130 kmstraight line
- 3 KCT144 kmstraight line
More about Yala National Park
Yala National Park is one of 26 national parks in Sri Lanka. It covers 979 km² (97,881 ha) — about 1.3 times the size of New York City, making it the #3 largest national park in Sri Lanka (11.2% of the country's national park area).
History and protection
The park was established in 1937, 89 years ago, which makes it the oldest national park in Sri Lanka. It is listed in IUCN category II: National Park — protecting whole ecosystems while welcoming visitors for recreation and education.
Visiting Yala National Park
The closest airport is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (HRI), about 51 km away — around 1 h 6 min by car; alternatively Batticaloa International Airport (BTC, 130 km). Other national parks within reach include Kumana National Park (357 km²), Lunugamvehera National Park (235 km²), Lahugala Kitulana National Park (16 km²) and Bundala National Park (62 km²) — easy to combine on one trip.
Frequently asked questions
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When was Yala National Park established?
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What protection category is Yala National Park?
Data: Wikidata (CC0), English Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.