The tour itinerary ended with a visit to the 4th and final cave, the Clearwater Cave. This is reached by another 10-minute boat ride from the jetty at the Wind Cave.
To some, particularly the senior citizens, access to this cave would be most challenging because of the need to climb more than 200+ steps built along the forested hill slope before reaching the cave entrance.
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| A tea break was scheduled at the jetty cum resting platform before the assault to the Clearwater Cave. |
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| Climbing the staircase. |
The Clearwater Cave System is reckoned to be the longest inter-connected cave by volume in the world. According to our tour guide, the length of the cave route that has been surveyed is now 250 Km.
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| Ceiling opening caused by sinkhole. |
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Plants inside the cave tilts towards the cave
entrance to gain maximum exposure to the sunlight! |
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This unusual feature found on the rock surface is formed with the initial growth of a certain kind of algae that feed on its surface. Soon when the rock surface is subjected to water current, the invaded parts are washed off leaving these multitudes of jagged surface!
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| A bottomless pit. |
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The subterranean river is said to carry around 20 tonnes of dissolved limestone out of the cave every year! |
| Subterranean river inside the cave. |
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| The whole group - with the Chew's family from West Malaysia. |
The tour concluded with lunch at the jetty area. Some would not leave until they have gone for a dip in the cold water in the river!
After my visit to the Gunung Mulu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since year 2000, I have no hesitation to recommend it to individuals who are interested to explore nature, cave systems, floral and fauna.
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