Hummanaya
{{Short description|Second largest blow hole in the world}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox landform
| name = Hummanaya Blowhole
| other_name = දික්වැල්ල හුම්මානය
| type = Blowhole
| photo = Hummanaya-1.jpg
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| map = Sri Lanka
| map_width =
| map_caption = location in Sri Lanka
| relief = 1
| pushpin =
| coordinates = {{Coord|5.9778905|80.7369175|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref =
| elevation_m =
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| website =
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Hummanaya Blowhole is the only known blowhole in Sri Lanka and it is considered to be the second largest blowhole in the world.{{cite web|title=Hummanaya Blow Hole|url=https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2YM5X_hummanaya-blow-hole?guid=75445174-7504-413e-83a7-96bad1aeeee7|website=geocaching|accessdate=2 August 2016}} {{Transliteration|si|Hummanaya}} (Sinhala: {{lang|si|හුම්මානය}} = {{lang|si|හූ+මානය}}) refers to the noise, "hoo", that can be heard a distance away when the blowhole is active.{{cite web|title=The Hummanaya Blow Hole in Kudawella|url=http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=75445174-7504-413e-83a7-96bad1aeeee7|publisher=Groundspeak Inc.|accessdate=25 March 2012}}
Location
The Hummanaya Blowhole is located {{convert|1.1|km|mi|1}} from the small fishing village of Kudawella, which is {{convert|28|km|abbr=on}} from Matara, {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} from Dikwella and {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}} from Tangalle, in the Southern Province.
Attraction
Hummanaya is a natural blowhole and is caused when sea water rushes through a submerged cavern and is pushed upwards. The sea water flows underneath the shore and then comes out of this hole due to pressure. The water fountain created by the geological feature shoots up every couple of minutes, depending on the nature of the sea, with the spray often reaching as high as {{convert|25|m|abbr=on}} to {{convert|30|m|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|title=Hummanaya Blow Hole |url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/09/25/the-hummanaya-blow-hole/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219023202/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2011/09/25/the-hummanaya-blow-hole/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 February 2013 |accessdate=19 March 2012 |newspaper=The Sunday Leader }}{{cite web|last=De Livera|first=Lankika|title=Blow Hole (Hummanaya): Dikwella|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/060521/plus/Travel.html|publisher=Sunday Times, Colombo|accessdate=30 March 2012}}
This site has now been developed as a tourist attraction, with a small visitors' information centre on marine life and a viewing platform.{{cite news|last=Waidyasekera|first=A.|title=Hummanaya Developed|url=http://pdfs.island.lk/2009/11/24/p4.pdf|accessdate=20 March 2012|newspaper=The Island|date=24 November 2009|agency=Upali Newspapers|page=4}}