Nice small map titled Pointe de Galle, from wood engraving with fine  detail and clear impression, nice hand coloring. Overall size approx. 17.5 x 16 cm, image size approx. 10.5 x  10.5 cm. From La Nouvelle Géographie universelle, la terre et les hommes, 19 vol. (1875-94), great work of Elisee Reclus. Cartographer is Charles Perron.

Galle

formerly Point de Galle

port and city, Sri Lanka, situated on a large harbour on the island's southern  coast. Galle dates from the 13th century, possibly much earlier, but it became  the island's chief port during the period of Portuguese rule (1507–c. 1640).  Under Dutch rule it was the island capital until 1656, when Colombo replaced it.  The rise of Colombo's port in the second half of the 19th century led to Galle's  decline, but congestion at Colombo has caused some shipping to be diverted to  Galle. The city, 65 miles (105 km) southeast of Colombo, has good road and rail  connections; a cement factory is in operation there. The historic section of the  city, containing a fort and other colonial-era buildings, was designated a  UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. In December 2004 most of Galle was destroyed  or heavily damaged by a large tsunami that had been triggered by a strong  earthquake in the Indian Ocean near Indonesia. Pop. (2001 est.) 90,934.