M02: Geography and Nature of Malaysia

1. Malaysia jungles are estimated to be 130million years old.
2. Total land area of Malaysia - 329,847 sq km.
3. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) for Malaysia - GMT + 8
4. City of Bougainvilleas - Ipoh, Perak - Official Flower
5. Lighthouse of Cape of Rachado - Rumah Api Tanjung Tuan - Malacca but near to Port Dickson
6. First oil well in Malaysia - The Grand Old Lady - Miri, Sarawak - 1910 - Shell
7. Tip of Borneo - Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, Kudat - "lingering junction" - South China Sea lingers Sulu Seas
8. Canopy Walkway - Taman Negara, Pahang - 45 meters high & 510m length - longest canopy walk in the world
9. Mountain range that passes through Peninsular Malaysia - Titiwangsa range - divide peninsular to east and west
10. Highest mountain - Mount Kinabalu, Sabah (4095.2m) -> Mount Trus Madi, Sabah (2642m) -> Mount Tahan, Pahang (2187m) -> Mount Korbu, Perak (2183m)
11. Sinking City - Tasik Chini, Kuantan, Pahang - mythical city could escape attack by sinking into the lake
12. Concentration of wild life - Proboscis monkey - Kinabatangan River, Sabah
13. Sarawak Chamber, Gunung Mulu National Park - 186 miles - can fit 9 jumbo jets
14. Oldest rock in Malaysia - Mat Chinchang Formation, Langkawi Island - 550million years old

3 Man-made Lakes in Malaysia:

Kenyir Lake 

- man-made lake located in Terengganu

- largest man-made lake in South East Asia

- created in 1985 by damming of Kenyir River 

- to create Sultan Mahmud Power Station (hydroelectric dam)

- covers 260 sq km and contains 340 small islands

Temenggor Lake

- man-made lake located in Perak

- 2nd largest man-made lake in Peninsular Malaysia

- to create Temenggor Dam (hydroelectric dam)

- located south of 1533m high Ulu Titi Basah peak

- man-made island, Banding Island

Putrajaya Lake

- 650ha man-made lake

- located at the centre of Putrajaya 

- act as a natural cooling system for the city

- recreation, fishing, water sports and water transport

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Tanjung Piai

- cape in Johor which is the southernmost point of Peninsular Malaysia and mainland Eurasia

- seafood restaurants perched on wooden jetties surrounded by mangrove forests at the coastline

- 15m light tower which flashes once every 3 seconds

Kellie's Castle

- located near Batu Gajah, Perak

- unfinished, ruined mansion was built by Scottish planter, William Kellie Smith

- a gift for his wife or a home for his son

- planning for huge castle with Scottish, Moorish and Indian architecture

- 70 craftsmen, bricks and marble were imported from India

- William Kellie Smith died at age of 56, wife devastated and moved back to Scotland

Pulau Sipadan

- the only oceanic island in Malaysia, rising 600m from seabed

- formed by living corals growing on top of an extinct volcanic cone that took thousands years to develop

- located at the heart of Indo-Pacific basin, the centre of one of the richest marine habitats in the world

- rated by many dive journals as one of the top destinations for diving in the world

Taman Mini Malaysia

- cultural park located in Ayer Keroh, Malacca

- showcases traditional architecture and ways of life 

- 13 traditional houses each representing architectural style of 13 states in Malaysia

Sarawak Cultural Village

- located at the foothills of Mount Santubong, 35km from Kuching

- venue for World Harvest Festival and Rainforest World Music Festival

- depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak

- possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance

Pangkor Island

- an island off the coast of Perak in north-west peninsular Malaysia

- reach by ferry either from old jetty or Marina island jetty both located in Lumut

- land area of 8 sq km and a population of 25,000 islanders

- Dutch built a fort in effort to control Perak tin trade in 17th century

- location of British government and contender for Perak throne sign Pangkor Treaty 

Kinabalu Park

- one of the first national parks of Malaysia in 1964

- Malaysia's first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in Dec 2000 for its Outstanding Universal Values.

- located on the west coast of Sabah

- covers area of 754 sq km surrounding Mount Kinabalu

- one of the most popular tourist spots in Sabah

Dipterocarp Forest

- dipterocarpus derived from Greek, refers to two-winged fruit

- large forest emergent species, typically reaching heights of 40-70m tall some even over 80m

- major importance in the timber trade

- some species endangered as a result of overcutting, extensive illegal logging and habitat conversion

- provide valuable woods, aromatic essential oils, balsam, resins and source for plywood