Gahnospinel

Another specialty gem type found mainly from Sri Lanka. These are closely related to gems called spinals which are very very common in mines. But Gahnospinel are very very rare. Even after finding them , precise identification of this gem type is even more difficult.

Spinals when checked from surface they appear as bi-pyramid lattice. But Gahnospinel have spherical and oval lattices. This is called Pebble effect. These gems are usually found in rivers. While spinals are common in Red , Blue , Yellow and Pink but Gahnospinel have shiny color. Its different to Blue Spinals and electric blue color of Cobalt Spinals. Its much closer to Royal Blue color of blue sapphire. Gahnospinel have very high refractive index of 1.74.

An expert on gems can clearly identify this quality. These are not sharp has Blue sapphires, but more sharper than regular blue spinals. Refraction index testing can clearly identify Gahnospinel. Even though chemically spinals are classified into many chemicals, Gahnospinel contain Mg. Zh, Al and Co. Refraction index may range from 1.735 to 1.745. But they are uni refractive. Specific Density is between 3.65 and 4.55. Color can also vary from shiny blue to purple because of Fe ions in the gem. Contrasting color of Gahnospinel can also be little darker too. They are rarely discovered in Madagascar as well.  

Hot Water Springs

Even though the Island of Ceylon now known as Sri Lanka is a very small island on the planet, the biodiversity there is at it’s maximum. There are hot water springs in Sri Lanka too , which are not well known or popular among most tourists.

Most of them are located in the eastern province of Sri Lanka. But Southern province also have few as well. In Early days people considered these as are sacred or place of worship and used it’s water for medical uses. Temperature of these springs can span from 42’c to 60’c.

Minerals in these spring waters may also span from 0.2g to 0.7g too. There are also free CO2 , bi-carbonates , Chlorides , Sulfates , phosphates , Magnesium , Sodium, Lithium and Iron are also found in small quantities in these waters.

MahaOya hot water spring contains the highest temperature of water among all the hot water springs found in Sri Lanka. Bathing in one of these is a not to miss thing for a tourist in Sri Lanka.

Minneriya Forest Reserve

Another natural wonderland a traveler can witness in Sri Lanka is Minneriya Forest ereserve. It spans nearly 8889 acres. This is the 11^th largest forest exists in the island of Ceylon. 

This was opened to public in 1998. Situated in North Central province - Polonnaruwa District, it is at the height of around 500 meters above the sea level. Forest comprises of dense jungles and mountain points. This is very famous for being a wet land at the dry zone in Sri Lanka. Annual rainfall is measured here at from 1500mm to 2000mm . Temperature spans from 20.6’c to 34.5’c which is very unique for a forest located in a dry zone climate. Soil is special too because it consists of brown mud clay which also exists in wet zones while this is located at a dry zone.

Visitors can reach this place on A11 Road to Polonnaruwa from Colombo , stop at 182 mile post, there you can find the entrance counter to the forest reserve. Elephants take the foremost place for the mammal creatures in here. According to Statistics , from 175 to 200 elephants roam this jungle. But at the driest seasons of this area , in around April, around 300 elephants can be witnessed near the Minneriya Water Reservoir. Because Elephants from other areas come to this place to find water at dry season.

They could also be blocking the main road as well at that time. Unique botanical plant systems also can be seen here which are difficult to find in other areas of this dry zone. There are 23 more other mammal species live in this forest. Deers , Buffaloes , bears and rare wild cats can be seen here. Also in the high tree tops , there are monkeys which breed is unique to the Island as well. Cobras and Other snakes are also very common. Another special member in here is the Sri Lankan Alligator. Visitors must be very careful of not to get down from the vehicle you are traveling. You should also not feed any wild animals as well.