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Langkawi

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Langkawi is an archipelago located in the Strait of Malacca.

LangkawiMap
LangkawiMap

It is an administrative district of the state of Kedah in northwestern Malaysia. The archipelago consists of 99 islands. Five additional small islands are visible only during low tide. Langkawi is officially known as the Jewel of Kedah. This title was conferred by the Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah in 2008. The islands serve as a major duty-free destination for travelers. The largest town in the district is Kuah.

Langkawi Malaysia Dataran-Helang-05
Langkawi Malaysia Dataran-Helang-05

The geology of Langkawi is remarkably ancient. The Machinchang Formation is the oldest geological formation in the area. This formation was the first part of Southeast Asia to rise from the seabed. This process occurred during the Cambrian period over 500 million years ago. You can observe these Cambrian rocks at Teluk Datai in the northwest. The outcrop consists of sandstone, also called quartzite, in the upper sections. The lower sections contain shale and mudstone. These rocks belong to the Western Belt of Peninsular Malaysia. This belt is part of a geological feature known as the Shan–Thai terrane.

Langkawi features a tropical monsoon climate, classified as Am by the Köppen system. The islands receive more than 2,000 mm of rain every year. There is a short dry season from December until February. The rainy season is much longer, lasting from March to November. September is the wettest month of the year. During this month, the islands can receive more than 300 mm of rainfall. The landscape is shaped by this weather. Two-thirds of the main island is covered by forest-covered mountains and natural vegetation. The coastal areas consist of flat, alluvial plains and limestone ridges.

The history of the islands includes many different names and visitors. In the 14th century, the traveler Wang Dayuan called the islands Lóngyápútí. The Ming dynasty admiral Zheng He also marked the islands on his maps. In the 15th century, the Acehnese referred to the area as Pulau Lada, or Pepper Island. This name was used because people traveled there to buy pepper. In 1691, the French general Augustin de Beaulieu recorded buying pepper on the island. Local legend also tells of a woman named Mahsuri. She was accused of adultery in the late 18th century. Before her death, she reportedly placed a seven-generation curse on the island.

Political control of Langkawi has changed several times. The Siamese army invaded Kedah and captured the islands in May 1822. This invasion caused the population to drop significantly. Before the attack, the population was between 3,000 and 5,000 people. The islands were eventually recaptured from the Siamese in 1837. In 1909, the Anglo-Siamese Treaty brought the islands under British rule. During World War II, Siam briefly took control of the area. The British cleared pirate bases from the islands between 1945 and 1946. Langkawi finally became part of independent Malaya in 1957.

Tourism is a vital part of the modern Langkawi economy. The islands were developed as a major resort in the 1980s. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad helped plan many of the buildings. In 2007, UNESCO gave Langkawi the status of a World Geopark. This status protects areas like the Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park. Other areas include the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park and the Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park.

The Kilim Karst park is a mangrove forest with limestone caves. Visitors can see crocodiles, eagles, and macaques there.

Langkawi sky bridge
Langkawi sky bridge

Many tourists visit the Langkawi Sky Bridge, which sits above the rainforest canopy.

Demographically, the district is home to approximately 99,000 people. Most of the population lives on the main island of Langkawi. Only four islands in the archipelago are inhabited. These are Langkawi, Tuba, Rebak, and Dayang Bunting. About 90% of the residents are Malay. Other ethnic groups include Chinese, Indian, and Thai people. Islam is the primary religion practiced by the Malay population. Standard Malay is the official language, but English is widely understood.

View of Langkawi International Airport
View of Langkawi International Airport

Travelers can reach the islands via the Langkawi International Airport or by ferry.

Before the Dawn at Langkawi Island
Before the Dawn at Langkawi Island
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🖼️ Images & Media (8)
File:Langkawi Malaysia Dataran-Helang-05.jpg
Langkawi Malaysia Dataran-Helang-05.jpg
File:Mao Kun map - Langkawi, Kedah, Penang.png
Mao Kun map - Langkawi, Kedah, Penang.png
File:LangkawiMap.png
LangkawiMap.png
File:Before the Dawn at Langkawi Island.jpg
Before the Dawn at Langkawi Island.jpg
File:Map of Langkawi District, Kedah.svg
Map of Langkawi District, Kedah.svg
File:Langkawi Pantai Cenang 3.JPG
Langkawi Pantai Cenang 3.JPG
File:Langkawi sky bridge.jpg
Langkawi sky bridge.jpg
File:View of Langkawi International Airport.JPG
View of Langkawi International Airport.JPG
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