(Above image is 500x386. Original size is 640x480)
Introduction
The Gunung Mulu National Park covers an area of about 544 sq.km, being as big as Singapore. It lays hidden in the interior of Northern Sarawak and is inaccessible by road. The park can be reached by 35 minute plane trip from Miri or by a day-long journey up the Baram River.
The Park is dominated by the sandstone mass of mount Mulu, the second highest mountain in Sarawak, which rises to 2,376m. This massif of submetamorphic slates and hard sandstones is the type-locality of the Mulu Formation, thought to be early Tertiary in age, some 40 to 60 million years old. To the west and on the flanks of mount Mulu lies a band of limestones which forms the lesser peaks of Gunung Api and Gunung Benarat. This mountain chain, some 40km long, consists of a single geological rock unit, the Melinau Limestone Formation. This formation is younger than the Mulu Formation, being some 40 to 20 million years old. It is in these limestone mountains that the cave system is developed.
Situated some 900 metres up on the side of Gunung Api and Benarat are the famous pinnacles;
these pointed, sharp-edged limestone pyramids rise above tree tops to a
height of 45m. The pinnacles are the only remnants of previously
continuous limestone beds, all dissected and dissolved by the endless
chemical weathering.
A visit to the Gunung Mulu National Park is an unforgettable adventure to the roots nature, through the wilderness of virgin rainforests and the eerie world of the caves. Along the journey you can meet with some of the ethnic tribesmen in their traditional attire: hats made of feathers, loin cloth and tattooed arms, chest and even necks. Some women have small tattoos on their wrists, palms and arms while others have elongated earlobes reaching to their shoulders. Amongst them are the Orang Ulu, Kiput, Kenyah, Kayan, Mulut and Punan tribes.
Fauna/Flora:
The Gunung Mulu National Park is a natural "Garden of Eden" with her virgin forests harbouring an astounding biological diversity. All the major inland vegetation types of Borneo can be observed. The forest range from peatswamp, heath and mixed dipterocarp at lower elevations, changing upward through limestone and moss forests to the stunted upper montane vegetation at Gunung Mulu's summit.
To date, Mulu is known to contain some 8,000 types of fungi, 3,500 plant species including 170 species of orchids, over 67 species of mammals, 262 species of birds along with 74 species of frogs and 47 species of fish. The insects are especially diverse and abundant; amongst the most noticeable groups, some 281 species of butterflies and 458 species of ants have been identified. At dusk, at 6 pm every day, some of the caves are the site of an incredible activity: millions of bats stream out of the yawning cave mouth to forage for food in the jungle. This seemingly endless migration of the bats happens at the same time as the swallows and swiftlets are making their way back inside the cave ! At the break of dawn, the reverse migration happens again.
The Caves:
Introduction
n the Melinau limestones beneath the jungle canopy lie some of the world's most impressive caves, only recently discovered. During caving expeditions starting in 1976, over 44 caves comprising close to 200 km of passages were surveyed; it is believed that this represents less than a third of all the caves in Mulu. Only four show caves are open to the public: the Clearwater, Wind, Deer and Lang caves. These are easy to explore and can be visited as day trips from Mulu Park Head Quarters. There are steps and a plank-walk, complete with railings, connecting all the interesting spots in each cave. They are lighted at strategic spots.
Clearwater cave:
With almost 60 kilometer of known passages, Clearwater Cave is the longest cave system in Southeast Asia. Its main attraction is its cool clear underground stream, one of the finest underground rivers of the world.
Wind cave:
Wind cave is noted for its unusual calcite formations. In one of its chambers, dubbed the Kings room, the stalagmites and stalactites resemble chandeliers and candlesticks.
Deer Cave:
Deer Cave is a through-going passage, with two huge entrances surrounded by lush jungle with trees several hundred years old. The rock formation at one opening resembles the profile of Abraham Lincoln; at 100 metres wide and 120 metres high, this entrance is the largest cave passage known to man. It can actually contain St. Paul's Cathedral 5 times over. The other opening is known as the Garden of Eden because of the lush greenery just outside the entrance. Deer cave is also the home of the world's largest bat colony.
Lang Cave:
Lang is the smallest, but it has the most intricate carvings on its walls, resembling crepe ribbons and meteorites. A further seven caves are open to adventure caving. There are no plank-walks or lights and these are meant only for the fit and experienced visitor with the proper equipment and a guide from the Mulu Park headquarters. Amongst those is the Sarawak Chamber.
Sarawak Chamber:
Discovered only in 1980, and measuring some 600 metres long and 450 metres high, the majestic Sarawak Chamber is the world's largest cave. According to the Guiness Book Of World Records, its rivals: the Carlsbad Cavern of Mexico, the La Verna of USA, and the Gaping Gill of Britain can all fit into this chamber with room to spare. Otherwise, the entire St. Paul's Cathedral or forty Boeing 747s could be parked comfortably within the cave chamber.
