Chini Lake () is a lake in
Pekan District,
Pahang
{{Infobox political division
, name = Pahang
, official_name = Pahang Darul Makmur
, native_name =
, settlement_type = States and federal territories of Malaysia, State
, image_skyline =
, imagesize ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...
. The lake shores are inhabited by the Jakun branch of the
Orang Asli
The Orang Asli are a Homogeneity and heterogeneity, heterogeneous Indigenous peoples, indigenous population forming a national minority in Malaysia. They are the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia.
As of 2017, the Orang Asli accounted f ...
, indigenous ethnic groups of Malaysia.
The Tasik Chini is the second largest fresh water lake in Peninsular Malaysia and is made up of a series of 12 lakes.
Chini River, which drains from the lake, flows into Pahang River. The river is dammed to maintain the lake's depth during the dry season. However, this has disrupted the natural ecology of the lake and caused the death of trees on its shores due to elevated water level.
Tasik Chini is one of the
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status sites in Peninsular Malaysia, while the other is
Crocker Range in
East Malaysia
East Malaysia (), or the Borneo States, also known as Malaysian Borneo, is the part of Malaysia on and near the island of Borneo, the world's third-largest island. East Malaysia comprises the states of Sabah, Sarawak, and the Federal Territory ...
Flora and fauna
The lake is also endowed with a rich bio-diversified lush tropical wilderness that is home to 138 species of flora, 300 species of non-aquatic live and 144 species of fresh water fish. Between August and September the lake is transformed into a floating garden with thousands of white and pink
lotus flowers covering the surface.
Legends
The lake offers tranquil and peaceful surroundings steeped in myths and legends that have remained unexplained to this day.
According to an
Orang Asli
The Orang Asli are a Homogeneity and heterogeneity, heterogeneous Indigenous peoples, indigenous population forming a national minority in Malaysia. They are the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia.
As of 2017, the Orang Asli accounted f ...
legend, the lake is inhabited by a
dragon
A dragon is a Magic (supernatural), magical legendary creature that appears in the folklore of multiple cultures worldwide. Beliefs about dragons vary considerably through regions, but European dragon, dragons in Western cultures since the Hi ...
called the
Naga Seri Gumum (sometimes referred to as "Malaysia's
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster (), known affectionately as Nessie, is a mythical creature in Scottish folklore that is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, long-necked, and with one or more humps protrud ...
"). It is believed to contain an ancient sunken
Khmer city at the bottom of the lake.
Pollution
Bukit Ketaya, a hill next to the lake is the site of mining of iron ore. The
Orang Asli
The Orang Asli are a Homogeneity and heterogeneity, heterogeneous Indigenous peoples, indigenous population forming a national minority in Malaysia. They are the oldest inhabitants of Peninsular Malaysia.
As of 2017, the Orang Asli accounted f ...
(indigenous people) who live on the banks of Tasik Chini complain that the lake has become polluted.
A community leader of an Orang Asli village, Tok Batin Awang Alok, said that logging and ore mining activities have create pollution and caused problems for local residents. Children who bathe in the lake complain of itchiness. Fish caught in the lake have become unfit to eat. The Orang Asli people cannot go to areas to collect roots used in traditional medicine because the areas have been closed for mining.
Dr Hedzri Adnan of Asian Public Intellectuals said that rapid changes at the lake might cause the ecosystem to collapse by 2030.
Transparency International
Transparency International e.V. (TI) is a German registered association founded in 1993 by former employees of the World Bank. Based in Berlin, its nonprofit and non-governmental purpose is to take action to combat global corruption with civil s ...
's secretary-general Josie Fernandez also said that the lake also risked losing its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.
However, the Mentri Besar of Pahang,
Adnan Yaakob said that the state Health Department found that the water quality to be normal after a three-month study while the muddy waters only occurred near the state Islamic and Malay Customs Council and
RISDA's plantations near the lake.
In 2021, the government announced an end to mining around the lake.
Pictures
Image:Malaysia 269.jpg, Information board
Image:Malaysia 239.jpg, Tourist board at Chini Lake
Image:Malaysia 242.jpg, Chini River
See also
*
Geography of Malaysia
References
{{Authority control
Lakes of Malaysia
Pekan District
Biosphere reserves of Malaysia
Nature sites of Malaysia
Landforms of Pahang