Malaysia Geography

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Geology

Malaysia is in Southeast Asia and has a mix of land types, from flat coastlines to tall mountains and rolling hills. It also has borders with countries like Vietnam and the Philippines in the ocean. An interesting fact is that Brunei is almost surrounded by Malaysia. This article will show you the different geographical features that make Malaysia special.

Malaysia, as the 66th largest country in terms of total land area, spans 329,613 km2 (127,264 sq mi). West Malaysia shares land borders with Thailand, while East Malaysia neighbors Indonesia and Brunei. A narrow causeway and a bridge connect it to Singapore.

Geological features like the Perlis River, the Golok River, and the Pagalayan Canal largely define the country’s land borders, and it also shares maritime boundaries with Vietnam and the Philippines.

Some of these maritime boundaries have sparked ongoing disputes. Brunei, almost forming an enclave within Malaysia, is split into two by the state of Sarawak.

Malaysia is the only country with territory on both the Asian mainland and the Malay archipelago. Tanjung Piai, located in the southern state of Johor, is the southernmost tip of continental Asia.

The Strait of Malacca, lying between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia, is one of the most important thoroughfares in global commerce, carrying 40 per cent of the world’s trade.

Two Islands Country

The two parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both Peninsular and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to hills and mountains.

Peninsular Malaysia, containing 40 per cent of Malaysia’s land area, extends 740 km (460 mi) from north to south, and its maximum width is 322 km (200 mi).

It is divided between its east and west coasts by the Titiwangsa Mountains, rising to a peak elevation of 2,183 meters (7,162 ft) at Mount Korbu, part of a series of mountain ranges running down the center of the peninsula.

These mountains are heavily forested, and mainly composed of granite and other igneous rocks. Much of it has been eroded, creating a karst landscape.

The range is the origin of some of Peninsular Malaysia’s river systems. The coastal plains surrounding the peninsula reach a maximum width of 50 kilometers (31 mi), and the peninsula’s coastline is nearly 1,931 km (1,200 mi) long, although harbors are only available on the western side.

East Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, has a coastline of 2,607 km (1,620 mi). It is divided between coastal regions, hills and valleys, and a mountainous interior.

The Crocker Range extends northwards from Sarawak, dividing the state of Sabah. It is the location of the 4,095 m (13,435 ft) high Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Malaysia. Mount Kinabalu is located in the Kinabalu National Park, which is protected as one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Malaysia.

The highest mountain ranges form the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. Sarawak contains the Mulu Caves, the largest cave system in the world, in the Gunung Mulu National Park, which is also a World Heritage Site.

Climate

Malaysia Geography encompasses two distinct regions, each with a multitude of islands, the largest of which is Banggi. This equatorial nation experiences annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons.

The temperature is moderated by the presence of the surrounding oceans, indicating the significant maritime influence on Malaysia’s climate.

Usually high in humidity, the region sees an average annual rainfall of 250 cm (98 in). The climates of the Peninsula and the East reflect the diversity in Geography of Malaysia, with the peninsula’s climate directly affected by wind from the mainland, contrasting the more maritime weather of the East.

Local climates can be divided into three regions, highland, lowland, and coastal. Climate change poses potential impacts on Malaysia’s Geography, likely affecting sea levels and rainfall, thereby increasing flood risks and leading to droughts.

Forests

We can classify the woods of Malaysia as tropical rainforest. Forests cover about 58.2% of Malaysia’s geographical area. Lowland woodland exists substantially below 760 meters in height (2,493 ft).

East Malaysia, like the majority of Borneo, formerly boasted Borneo lowland rain forests with over 2,000 kinds of trees. However, the growth in logging and shifting farming since the 1960s has removed most of it.

Loggers have cut down over eighty percent of Sarawak’s forests, and logging across East Malaysia has contaminated streams, induced soil erosion, and damaged agriculture. Now, several state governments have acted to stem the destruction of the rainforest.

A variety of species, mostly dipterocarp, swamps, and mangroves, populate the rainforests of Malaysia. Dipterocarp trees dominate the woodland.

Malaysia serves as the center of Dipterocarps species. Over 1,425 square kilometers (550 square miles) of Malaysia’s land host mangroves. Authorities have declared certain locations as forest reserves, state parks, or national parks.

The Department of Wildlife and National Park, the Forest Department of Sarawak, the Sabah Forestry Department, the Sabah Foundation, and Sabah Parks manage these reserves.

As of the year 2000, Kinabalu National Park and Gunung Mulu National Park stand as two natural World Heritage Sites.

Human Geography

Peninsular Malaysia, a key area in the context of Malaysia Geography, houses 79.2% of the nation’s population, making it more populous than East Malaysia.

In 2002, about 59% of the Malaysian population was urban, while the rest resided in rural areas. As the heartbeat of Malaysia Geography, Kuala Lumpur stands as the largest city with a population of 1.89 million people in the city, expanding to around 7 million in the Klang Valley metropolitan region.

Other significant cities reflecting the diverse landscape of Malaysia Geography include George Town, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, and Kota Kinabalu.

Political Geography

Malaysia has thirteen states and three Federal Territories. Peninsular Malaysia consists of eleven states and two federal territories. East Malaysia has two states and one federal territory.

Administrative districts further segment the states. In Sabah and Sarawak, divisions precede districts. For voting reasons, there are distinct subdivisions for electoral districts.

FAQs

1. What are the main landscapes of Malaysia?

• The peninsula’s west coast is characterized by mangrove forests and flat areas; the east coast by various beaches; and the inland by mountains and jungle.

2. What is Malaysia’s climate like?

• Malaysia has a tropical climate, with hot, humid weather all year. Malaysia’s temperatures remain consistent, with averages ranging from 75°F to 90°F in the coast and lowlands and 57°F to 77°F in the highlands.