Mount Silam

Mount Silam (Malay: Gunung Silam) is a mountain on the northeast coast of Borneo. It is located in Lahad Datu District in the Malaysian state of Sabah, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Lahad Datu.

Mount Silam
Highest point
Elevation884 m (2,900 ft)
Coordinates4.957°N 118.165°E / 4.957; 118.165 
Geography

Description

Mount Silam is 884 metres (2,900 ft) high and overlooks Darvel Bay on the Celebes Sea. The geology is characterised by ultrabasic rock. Rainforest covers the mountain from 200 m (700 ft) altitude to the summit.[1]

Flora

Mount Silam is home to the endangered tree Madhuca silamensis.[2] It is also home to a number of pitcher plant species including Nepenthes macrovulgaris and Nepenthes tentaculata.[3]

Radio masts on mountain

Tourism

The Tower of Heaven (Menara Kayangan) is a 30-metre-high (98 ft) observation tower that was built as a tourist facility at the top of Mount Silam in 2012. The tower has panoramic views that include the Darvel Bay islands. The complex includes nature trails and tourist accommodation.[4]

References
  1. Proctor, J.; Lee, Y.; Langley, A.; Munro, W. & Nelson, T. (June 1998). "Ecological Studies on Gunung Silam, A Small Ultrabasic Mountain in Sabah, Malaysia. I. Environment, Forest Structure and Floristics". Journal of Ecology. British Ecological Society. 76 (2). doi:10.2307/2260596. JSTOR 2260596.
  2. Olander, S.B. & Wilkie, P. (2019). "Madhuca silamensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T136470568A136470883.
  3. Phillipps, Anthea; Lamb, Anthony (1996). Pitcher-plants of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo). ISBN 9789838120098.
  4. "Tower of Heaven (Menara Kayangan), Lahad Datu". Sabah Forestry Department. Retrieved 16 November 2020.


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