Chini Lake
Encyclopedia
Tasik Chini is a lake near the Pahang River
in central Pahang
, Malaysia. The lakeshores are inhabited by the Jakun branch of the Orang Asli
.
The 12,565 acres (5,026 hectares) Tasik Chini is the second largest fresh water lake in 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.
flowers covering the surface.
According to an Orang Asli
legend, the lake is inhabited by a dragon
called the Naga Seri Gumum (sometimes referred to as "Malaysia's Loch Ness Monster
"). It is believed to contain an ancient sunken Khmer
city at the bottom of the lake.
Pahang River
Pahang River or is a river in the state of Pahang, Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula. With 459 km in length, it is the longest river on the Malay Peninsula...
in central Pahang
Pahang
Pahang is the third largest state in Malaysia, after Sarawak and Sabah, occupying the huge Pahang River river basin. It is bordered to the north by Kelantan, to the west by Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, to the south by Johor and to the east by Terengganu and the South China Sea.Its state...
, Malaysia. The lakeshores are inhabited by the Jakun branch of the Orang Asli
Orang Asli
Orang Asli , is a generic Malaysian term used for people indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia...
.
The 12,565 acres (5,026 hectares) Tasik Chini is the second largest fresh water lake in 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.
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 lotusNelumbo
Nelumbo is a genus of aquatic plants with large, showy flowers resembling water lilies, commonly known as lotus. The generic name is derived from the Sinhalese word Nelum. There are only two known living species in the genus. The sacred lotus is native to Asia, and is the better known of the two...
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
Orang Asli
Orang Asli , is a generic Malaysian term used for people indigenous to Peninsular Malaysia...
legend, the lake is inhabited by a dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
called the Naga Seri Gumum (sometimes referred to as "Malaysia's Loch Ness Monster
Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is similar to other supposed lake monsters in Scotland and elsewhere, though its description varies from one account to the next....
"). It is believed to contain an ancient sunken Khmer
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
city at the bottom of the lake.
External links
- Sri Gumum with information (history, legends, slide shows) on the lake and its people