Abhaya Wewa
| Abhaya Wewa අභය වැව | |
|---|---|
| A lake with algal blooms on it | |
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| Location | Anuradhapura |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Built | 400 BC[1][2] |
| Surface area | 1,235 acres (500 ha; 1.930 sq mi) |
| Water volume | 133×106 cu ft (3.8×106 m3)[2] |
Abhaya Wewa (Sinhalese: අභය වැව), historically Abhayavapi (Sinhalese: අභයවාපි) or Bassawakkulama reservoir, is a reservoir in Sri Lanka, built by King Pandukabhaya who ruled in Anuradhapura from 437 BC to 367 BC, after constructing the city.[3]
It was constructed in 380 BC. The dam of the reservoir is 10 m high. The water of the reservoir is also accumulated in the Giritale and Kantalai.[4] Currently, the reservoir is about 255 acres. The embankment of the reservoir is about 5910 feet long and 22 feet high above the sill level of the sluice.[5]
Size
[edit | edit source]Area is 1,235 acres (500 ha; 1.930 sq mi); the length of the Waw Kandiya (Sinhalese: වැව් කන්ඩිය English: embankment) is 5,910 feet (1.119 mi) and height is 22 feet (6.7 m). The width of the top of the embankment is 6 feet (1.8 m) to 8 feet (2.4 m).[1][2]
Purpose
[edit | edit source]Built inside the ancient Anuradhapura, it supplied water to the city population.[1][2]
History
[edit | edit source]King Paduwasdeva of Sri Lanka, when married Subaddhakacanna from North India, and her seven brothers also came to Sri Lanka and established their villages. One of the brothers, Anuradha established Anuradhapura where he constructed the first reservoir. The reservoir was expanded by king Pandukabhaya. The reservoir was called Abaya Vapi at that time, in memory of one of King's uncles. The reservoir was used to feed the irrigation system.[5][6][7]
See also
[edit | edit source]- Anuradhapura Kingdom § Irrigation and water management
- Irrigation works in ancient Sri Lanka
- Basawakkulama inscription
References
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