- Timbun Mata
Timbun Mata Island (or Pulau Timbun Mata) is the largest island on the south side of
Darvel Bay (also known as "Teluk Lahad Datu"), inSemporna ,Sabah ,Malaysia . It is over 26 kilometers long and at the widest is almost 10 kilometers wide. The island is mountainous and was formerly (pre-2000) densely wooded. Mt. Tannabalu, the highest point at 620 m., is a conical, extinct volcano in the center of the island. A secondary peak, Mt. Sedungal, at the east end of the island rises to 489 m. The south side of the island is only separated from the mainland by a shallow channel known as the Trusan Sigalong. It is located at 4°39' N 118°25' E with an area of 114.97 km².History
The island has been inhabited since before records were kept. There are several villages on the island which have been there for at least several hundred years, Mantandak (in the west), Lakai Lakai (north), Dap Dap (northeast) and Kubor (east). In addition there are newer, illegal settlements which have sprung up on the southeastern portion of the island.
The island was declared a forest reserve in 1930, but had been planted in teak as early as the 1880s. The teak forests have been periodically surveyed, but inroads by illegal logging and land clearing has reduced them.
References
* [http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/websites/pollux/pollux.nss.nima.mil/NAV_PUBS/SD/pub163/163sec10.pdf United States Navy Publication 163, Chapter 10, prepared by the National Imagery and Mapping Agency] .
* [http://www.sabah.gov.my/htan_caims/Class%20I/A_FR1/timbun_mata.htm Sabah Forestry Department report on Timbun Mata] 2005
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