Mountain And Its Surroundings As A Nature example essay topic

Soaring at majestically 4 100 m above sea level in the North Borneo land called ' Land below the Wind' in the state of Sabah (Malaysia), Mount Kinabalu has long been regarded as the precious scientific gem. Although not the tallest peak in the South East Asian Countries but in term of attraction and splendid display of nature at work it has attracted more and more climbers each year from all over the world. People came here not only to test their stamina of conquering the peak or leisure sightseeing but the interest in the studies of it's rainforest's unique flora and fauna to scientific works have been on the rise. Formed one and a half million years ago, in a mere fraction of geological time where a huge mass of sedimentary rocks in the north western region of Sabah buckled and lifted up. This spectacular phenomenon was followed by cycles of erosion's, folding's and contortions, culminating in the formation of valleys and mountains that today dominate Sabah's landscape.

After having recognized the importance of this rainforest the Malaysian Government has gazetted the mountain and its surroundings as a nature reserve called Kinabalu Park in 1964 under the care of the state. This covered an area of 754 Sq. Km of diverse eco-systems from sub-alpine to luxuriant tropical forest. Containing thousands of plant species, Kinabalu's forests demonstrate the tremendous vigour typical of tropical rainforest environment. Majority of the park today remains as cool temperature evergreen forests that changes its appearance from the typical rainforest in the lower plateau to a unique moss and " bonsai like plants at the higher attitude. Over the years many prominent botanist, ornithologists, entomologists, herpetologist and mammalogist's unanimously agreed that the value of this mountain is not merely because of its popularity as a climbing destination, but because it is a nature monument, within which lies so many hidden secrets of natural world yet to be scientifically unraveled and appreciated by mankind.

As a result of it uplifted formation, in reality Mount Kinabalu is an ecological " island" - isolated by steep cliffs on a higher plateau and almost completely surrounded by land that has been cleared over the ages for shifting cultivations and human settlements. As a result evolution has taken place over the ages independently from the rest, developing a life form that is unique to Mount Kinabalu which explained why and how a relatively high proportion of the plants, amphibians, birds and insects are found in a few restricted localities of the mountain and are not to be found anywhere else in the world. This rare creation of nature have attracted many nature lovers throughout the world annually to catch a glimpse, explore and study its endemic species.