World's End

World's End is an escarpment in Horton Plains National Park in Sri Lanka's Central Province that drops more than 1,200 meters (about 4,000 feet) straight down. The rock face opens a view over tea plantations, forests and on clear days toward the southern coast.

The cliff was named by British settlers who compared the abrupt end of the highlands to the edge of the known world. The site became a popular destination for Europeans during the 19th century in the colonial period.

Visitors gather at the viewpoint in the morning before clouds roll in around midday and block the view. The trail is walked by hikers from around the world who start early to catch the panorama under clear skies.

The loop trail through the park area measures about 10 kilometers and passes through open grassland with no natural shade. It is best to begin early in the morning when temperatures are cooler and visibility is not yet reduced by fog.

The rock edge marks the transition between the cool highlands and the warm lowlands, with plant species from both zones growing one above the other. Within a meter of elevation change, the temperature can shift by several degrees.