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Mountain Kinabalu
is the highest mountain (4,101 metres or 13,455 feet high) in South East Asia.
The origins of the name Kinabalu is somewhat shrouded in mystery
and myth. Some believe Kina-balu means Chinese widow - Kina being a corruption of China, and Balu a widespread native dialectical term for widow. A story tells of a Chinese Prince seeking a huge pink pearl that existed at the very top of the mountain and guarded by a ferocious dragon. After a terrific battle he slayed the dragon and took the pearl, whereupon he celebrated his victory by marrying a local Kadazan woman. Homesick after being away from his motherland for so long, he deserted his wife to return to China, and the heartbroken wife wandered to the mountain and was turned to stone. But perhaps the most plausible explanation is that the name is derived from Aki Nabalu - meaning 'The revered place of dead', in the local Dusunic language. Kinabalu National Park, which includes Mount Kinabalu and surrounding areas, covers 745 square kilometres (288 square miles). The park is noted for its distinctive plant life. Besides the parasitic rafflesia, which boasts the world's largest flowers, the park claims an incredible profusion of orchids, ferns, rhododendrons, and pitcher plants. The park is also rich in bird life, with more than 500 species identified. In stark contrast to the lush lower slopes, the summit of Mount Kinabalu is an otherworldly expanse of bare granite slabs and pinnacles. |
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