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| Malaysia is situated seven degrees north of the equator in Southeast Asia. The country consists of 14 states; including three Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan. Politically, the three territories formed the 14th state of Malaysia eventhough geographically dispersed.
The northern part of Peninsular Malaysia borders Thailand. To the east is the South China Sea, to the south is Singapore and to the west are the Straits of Melaka. |
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| Sabah and Sarawak are on the northern coast
of the island of Borneo. Malaysia has a warm
and humid climate. The humidity is about 80%
all year round and temperatures range from
21 to 32°C. The climate is affected by
the northeast and southwest monsoons, tropical
winds that alternate during the course of
the year. |
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| The northeast monsoon blows from November
to March, and the southwest monsoon from May
to September. The periods between the monsoons
are marked by heavy rainfall. Much of Malaysia
is mountainous. Its mountains include two
of the highest in southeast Asia: the Gunung
Tahan, which rises 2,190 metres above the
central spine of the Titiwangsa mountain range
in Peninsular Malaysia, and the Gunung Kinabalu,
4,100 metres high, in Sabah. |
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| Photo: Trishaw, Melaka. |
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| Photo: Sunset at Danum Valley, Sabah. |
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About four-fifths of Malaysia is covered by tropical
rainforest " |
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There are dramatic limestone outcrops,
fascinating caves and spectacular waterfalls in
the mountains of Malaysia. |
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About four-fifths of Malaysia is covered
by tropical rainforest, one of the most complex
and rich ecosystems in the world. It is home to
about 15,000 species of flowering plants and trees,
600 species of birds and 210 species of mammals.
The Malaysian government has set aside more than
1.49 million hectares to protect them from development
and has enacted legislation to save Malaysia's precious
rainforest and its rare wildlife. |
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Malaysia is richly endowed with natural
resources. It has the world's largest tin deposits
and extensive reserves of oil and gas. Its forests
contain valuable tropical hardwood trees.
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