Kinabalu National Park is Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000. What is UNESCO World Heritage Site? A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance and its designation is highly prestigious affair. To have an idea what it takes to be listed, check out Unesco Selection Criteria. And a listed place can be delisted if the goverment fail to maintain the UNESCO World Heritage’s standard
Other places in Malaysia which are listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site are Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak and Melaka and George Town (Historic Cities). In Gunung Mulu National Park, there are Sarawak Chamber (largest underground chamber/room in the world, which is BIG enough to accommodate about 40 Boeing 747s, without overlapping their wings), Deer Cave (second largest single cave passage in the world) and Clearwater Cave (world’s largest cave by volume). In fact, Gunung Mulu National Park meets the most World Heritage criteria.
I really hope to go Gunung Mulu National Park one day to look with my own naked eyes especially these three extreme caves above. Wish to also go to climb Mount Kinabalu again as the first trip, we failed to climb the summit due to unforeseen circumstances.
Lastly, Happy Merdeka Day!
References:
- Unesco Selection Criteria
- http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1013
- http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1012
- http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1223
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinabalu_Park
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunung_Mulu_National_Park
- http://www.mulucaves.org
- http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/southeast-asia/malaysia/gunung-mulu/clearwater-s-cave/sphere-flash.html