Mulu National Park - Malaysia

It has been more than 2 years since I posted cards from Malaysia. I got 2 cards from there in the last weeks but these two are actually quite old, got them more than 10 years ago. One is an official and the other was sent by Ilyani in 2009 and it was my 1st card of the national park, a UNESCO site since 2000.

 

Photo credits: Sarah Waugh, Jan Castley, J Satem, B Wan Ullok © Perkata

MY-169142, sent by Nurul. 

From top left: forest lined rivers, the Pinnacles, Pagoda flowers, Deer Cave and layered tropical forest.

Gunung Mulu National Park is one of Nature’s most spectacular achievements and the ‘Jewels in the Crown’ of Sarawak’s expanding network of national park. It is also the largest national park, covering 544 sq km of primary rainforest; which is crass-crossed by fast flowing rivers and clear jungle streams. Mulu is dominated by three mountains – Gunung Mulu (2,376 m), Gunung Api (1,750 m) and Gunung Benarat (1,858 m). Yet many of Mulu’s greatest attractions lie deep below the surface. Hidden underneath the forested slopes of these mountains is one of the largest limestone cave system in the world. 

This system, a breath-taking natural wonder, contains a number of record breaking caves. With the world’s largest cave passage (Deer Cave), the world’s largest natural chamber (Sarawak Chamber), and the longest cave in Southeast Asia (Clearwater Cave), it is not surprising that Mulu is now world-famous. Over 200 Km of cave passages have been surveyed but this is thought to represent just 30-40% of the actual total.
The oldest of Mulu’s caves started to form about 5 million years ago when sideways earth movements resulted in the formation of both limestone and sandstone mountains, lying side by side. Millions of years of heavy rain and the action of rivers and running water carved out the vast subterranean system that exists today. The weathering process still continues; dripping water creates new rock features, limestone is slowly worn away, and underground rivers carve and sculpt the caves, transporting limestone debris to the cave mouth or redistributing it within the system.
Although Mulu is the synonymous with caves, the ‘Mulu experience’ is not limited to underground attractions; above ground there is plenty to and do. The is covered in rich primary rainforest and offers a whole range of nature-based activities. There are some excellent jungle treks and mountain hikes, including the challenging trek to view the Pinnacles – 45 meter high, razor sharp limestone spikes that sit majestically on the slopes of Gunung Api. - in: https://www.mulunationalpark.com