GeoTourism
Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark is home to one of Southeast Asia’s oldest mountain formations, created during the Cambrian period over 550 million years ago. This rich geological diversity has given rise to an equally abundant variety of flora and fauna. It is also home to one of the oldest rainforests on the planet.
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THEMES AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
PART OF AN ANCIENT SUPERCONTINENT
Despite Langkawi's small land mass, there is a plethora of strong evidence to support the theory that the region was part of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwanaland, with the appearance of cold water fossils, sediments and dropstones. There is also evidence of the breakaway from the supercontinent by the Sibumasu Terrane, which later in the Triassic collided with the Eurasian Continental Plate.
Geosites to Visit:
Pulau Tepor Dropstone, Sungai Itau Brachiopod Fossils, Pulau Jong Fossils
Meteorite Impact Crater
A large horseshoe-shaped ridge structure known as 'Mahsuri's Ring' situated in the central part of Langkawi Island is believed to be evidence of a meteorite impact; the remnants of a round-shaped meteorite with a diameter of approximately 1.5km.
Geosites to Visit:
Ulu Melaka Mahsuri's Ring
OLDEST ROCK FORMATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
The deltaic sandstones which formed 550 million years ago during the Cambrian period of the Palaeozoic Era, and now make up the Machinchang mountain range, comprise the oldest rock formation in Southeast Asia.
Geosites to Visit:
Pasir Tengkorak Cross-Bedding, Pulau Jemuruk Cambrian Fossil, Machinchang Peak, Temurun Waterfall, Kubang Badak
A COMPLETE PALAEOZOIC SNAPSHOT
Langkawi's archipelago of 99 islands arose when the Sibumasu Terrane rifted off northwards from Gondwanaland. The terrane was fully submerged in water, seen through the deposition of the warmer water limestones of the Chuping Formation in the Permian. This changed when the terrane collided into the Eurasian Continental Plate, causing large scale uplift, folding, faulting and also magmatic intrusions. This uplifted Langkawi's rock formations to showcase a complete depositional history of the Palaeozoic Era.
Geosites to Visit:
Kisap Fault - Belanga Pechah, Teluk Air Taun Thrust Fault, Gunung Raya Granite, Telaga Tujuh Waterfall
UNIQUE TROPICAL ISLAND
Ever since the emergence of Langkawi island resulting from uplift, there has been a slow but steady process of dissolution, carving the limestone rocks to create karstic formations unique to Langkawi's tropical island environment. These formations take various forms, from limestone pinnacles to sea stacks and sea arches, all of which are prevalent within both Kilim Karst Geforest Park and Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park.
Geosites to Visit:
Kilim Pinnacle, Tanjung Rhu Karst, Ujong Buloh Remnant Islands
