The nothern half of the island is dominated by rolling plains interrupted by isolated ridges. The coastal belt is of less than 100m elevation and the best scenic sandy beaches are found in southwestern, southern and eastern parts of the island. The coast line marked by beautiful lagoons and wetlands. In Jaffna peninsula limestone beds are found in the coastal belt. Closer to Jaffna peninsula, northwest and southeast of the island few offshore islands can be found.
Rivers flow from the central hill country to coast.
Sixteen of the island's rivers are longer than 100km. In the central hill country these river flows are interuppted by the irregularity of the terrain to forms many scenic waterfalls and rapids. The lower reaches of these rivers are navigable with flat bottomed man powered rafts. Some of these rivers flow to the ocean accross flood plains and deltas. Roughly about 40 percent of the country is covered by forest.