Gunung Lanno – Geological Heritage Site
A team of international speleologists were engaged in a speleological expedition to Gunung Lanno, Keramat Pulai, Perak, Malaysia during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. Thirty six caves were discovered and documented. All of these caves were surveyed except for Gua Thai Monk, Gua Batu Pencuri and Gua di tepi Tasik. These caves are of geological, speleological, biospeleological, heritage conservation (evidence of tin mining activities), show cave (cave with spectacular speleoterms), and cultural (temple caves) interests. The bulk of the discoveries were made during the International Speleological Expedition Gunung Lanno Malaysia 2001.
At the coming National Geoscience Conference 2011 to be held from11 to 12 June 2011 at Puteri Pacific Johor Bahru, we will present a paper on “Conservation of Gunung Lanno Cave Systems – Proposal for Geoheritage Site”. We shall highlight features of the caves worthy to be preserved as geoheritage site. But, preserving caves in Gunung Lanno is not possible if the mountain, Gunung Lanno itself is not conserved! Currently, there are 8 (5 of which are very active) limestone quarries operating at the foot of Gunung Lanno. Therefore, in the conference we are shall also going to highlight Gunung Lanno itself is to be conserved in term not only it harbours 36 cave systems but it itself is a botanical wonder.
There is a natural trail up to the summit (407 meters) of the mountain (see attached photos). As one ascends to the summit one will see changes in floristic composition at every 100 meters.
1. 0-100 meters: gesnereids, arums, begonias, palms, ferns, bryophytes, begonias
2. 100-200 meters: boeas & paraboias
3. 200-300 meters: bamboo forest
4. 300-400 meters: bamboo forest & orchids
During the International Speleological Expedition Gunung Lanno Malaysia 2001 the team members had successfully summit the mountain.
After the expedition Liew, Mah and I attempted to summit the mountain from the west but failed because it was not the correct trailhead and day was getting dark. On the second attempt with another team of 3 climbers we got ourselves lost in the thick limestone forest and almost died of dehydration. Lesson learned, mark the trail. On the third attempt an expert climber and I attempted and successfully summit the mountain. However, the trail wasn’t still marked!
This Sunday, 17 April 2011, I shall attempt to summit the mountain again with physical markers and GPS markings. The result of this mini expedition up Gunung Lanno shall be presented at the National Geoscience Conference 2011 to be held from11 to 12 June 2011 at Puteri Pacific Johor Bahru.
Interested climbers of the calibre of Christopher Leo, J.C. Tan, Moon, Mah, and Liew are welcome to join me. This will be a project for MNS Perak SIG: Geology, Caving, and Trekking.
Venue: Simpang Pulai Toll
Date: 17 April 2011 (Sunday)
Time: 8.00am
Contact person: Robin Leow
Contact email: robinleow1@gmail.com
Contact number: 012-5217526
All the best,
Robin
