Mesilau

Mesilau, named after Mesilau River, is an area situated at approximately 2,000 m (6,562 ft) above sea level on the East Ridge of Mount Kinabalu in Kinabalu National Park, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. It is the site of the Mesilau Nature Resort, which is owned and operated by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.

Nepenthes rajah growing along the Mesilau nature trail

Mesilau East River and Mesilau West River pass through the Mesilau area.[1] Mesilau East River forms a deep ravine,[2] and Mesilau Cave is located nearby.[1]

One of the two main summit routes of Mount Kinabalu starts at the Mesilau Nature Resort and is called the Mesilau Trail. The Mesilau Trail meets the old Kinabalu Summit Trail just above Layang-Layang (Dusun for Place of Swallows), which is situated at approximately 2,700 m (8,858 ft).[3]

Flora

Mesilau is home to the only population of Nepenthes rajah pitcher plants accessible to regular visitors.[4] The plants grow on a steep hillside overlooking Mesilau East River.[3] A number of other species, including N. burbidgeae, N. fusca, and N. macrovulgaris, have been transplanted there from the area around the Mesilau Nature Resort on Pinosok Plateau.[3] A single example of the rare natural hybrid N. lowii × N. rajah also grows nearby.[3] Daily guided tours are organised to the "Nepenthes Garden" where these plants are found. This nature trail is subject to a fee and operates daily from 9 am to 4 pm.[5]

Climate

Mesilau has a subtropical highland climate (Cfb) with heavy rainfall year-round.

Climate data for Mesilau
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 20.8
(69.4)		 20.8
(69.4)		 20.9
(69.6)		 20.9
(69.6)		 20.7
(69.3)		 20.1
(68.2)		 19.7
(67.5)		 19.9
(67.8)		 19.9
(67.8)		 20.2
(68.4)		 20.8
(69.4)		 21.3
(70.3)		 20.5
(68.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 17.0
(62.6)		 16.9
(62.4)		 16.9
(62.4)		 16.9
(62.4)		 16.9
(62.4)		 16.5
(61.7)		 16.1
(61.0)		 16.2
(61.2)		 16.1
(61.0)		 16.6
(61.9)		 17.1
(62.8)		 17.5
(63.5)		 16.7
(62.1)
Average low °C (°F) 13.2
(55.8)		 13.0
(55.4)		 12.9
(55.2)		 13.0
(55.4)		 13.2
(55.8)		 12.9
(55.2)		 12.6
(54.7)		 12.6
(54.7)		 12.4
(54.3)		 13.0
(55.4)		 13.4
(56.1)		 13.7
(56.7)		 13.0
(55.4)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 150
(5.9)		 110
(4.3)		 119
(4.7)		 146
(5.7)		 235
(9.3)		 191
(7.5)		 167
(6.6)		 183
(7.2)		 204
(8.0)		 186
(7.3)		 214
(8.4)		 192
(7.6)		 2,097
(82.5)
Source: Climate-Data.org[6]


References
  1. Kurata, S. 1976. Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu. Sabah National Parks Publications No. 2, Sabah National Parks Trustees, Kota Kinabalu.
  2. Allen, E.F. 1971. "Collecting and Growing Sabah Rhododendrons" (PDF). In: Rhododendron and Camellia Year Book 1971. Royal Horticultural Society, London.
  3. Thong, J. 2006. "Travels around North Borneo – Part 1" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2011. Victorian Carnivorous Plant Society Inc. 81: 12–17.
  4. Clarke, C.M. 2001. A Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Sabah. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
  5. Chilling out in a tropical destination Archived 23 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Jakarta Post, 12 June 2011.
  6. "Climate: Mesilau". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 30 October 2020.

5°59′N 116°36′E


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