Kinabalu Plateau: a geological monument within a natural world heritage site

Lamri Ali and Jamili Nais and Ibrahim Komoo (2010) Kinabalu Plateau: a geological monument within a natural world heritage site. In: Geological heritage of Malaysia: geoheritage conservation (1997-2009). Institut Alam Sekitar dan Pembangunan (LESTARI), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, pp. 435-442. ISBN 9789675227370

The Kinabalu plateau, an elevated platform with several isolated peaks at heights exceeding 3500m, represents a unique geological landscape heritage that is different from other elevated plateaus in the wet and humid tropical region. This plateau is made up of fresh igneous rock that has been smoothened and polished by glacial erosion. Glacial features displayed on this plateau include U-shaped gullies and valleys, hanging valleys, cirques, roche moutonnees, polished surfaces, crescentic gauges and fractures, plucking, grooves and striations. These are evidences of an ancient glacier existing 35,000 to 5,000 years ago that once covered the peak of Mount Kinabalu. The global temperature, which has become warmer since several thousand years ago, does not allow glacier to remain on the plateau and to continue its erosive work. The existing high montane ecosystem also hosts some rare and endemic animal and plant species. The landscape of Kinabalu plateau is a unique fossil landform left over from the process of crafting by an ancient glacier within tropical region. This outstanding landscape heritage should be regarded as a world treasure, a geological monument within the Kinabalu World Heritage Site.

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Abstract

The Kinabalu plateau, an elevated platform with several isolated peaks at heights exceeding 3500m, represents a unique geological landscape heritage that is different from other elevated plateaus in the wet and humid tropical region. This plateau is made up of fresh igneous rock that has been smoothened and polished by glacial erosion. Glacial features displayed on this plateau include U-shaped gullies and valleys, hanging valleys, cirques, roche moutonnees, polished surfaces, crescentic gauges and fractures, plucking, grooves and striations. These are evidences of an ancient glacier existing 35,000 to 5,000 years ago that once covered the peak of Mount Kinabalu. The global temperature, which has become warmer since several thousand years ago, does not allow glacier to remain on the plateau and to continue its erosive work. The existing high montane ecosystem also hosts some rare and endemic animal and plant species. The landscape of Kinabalu plateau is a unique fossil landform left over from the process of crafting by an ancient glacier within tropical region. This outstanding landscape heritage should be regarded as a world treasure, a geological monument within the Kinabalu World Heritage Site.

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Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43000 UPM Serdang, Malaysia. QE299.5 G345 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	plateaus
AGROVOC Term:	natural monument
AGROVOC Term:	ecosystems
AGROVOC Term:	biodiversity
AGROVOC Term:	environmental impact assessment
AGROVOC Term:	geologists
AGROVOC Term:	sustainable agriculture
AGROVOC Term:	tourism
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2025 19:41
Last Modified:	04 Feb 2025 19:41
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1058

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