Titiwangsa Mountains

File:West Malaysia relief location map.jpg, highlighting its mountainous core. The Titiwangsa Mountains is the longest range running along the border between the states of Perak and Selangor on the west coast with Kelantan and Pahang on the east coast, eventually straddling across the state of Negeri Sembilan further south. Nearby systems include Keledang and Bintang Ranges to its northwest, Benom Massif to the southeast, and Tahan Range to the east.]]

File:Ulu Jelai, Pahang, Malaysia - panoramio (1).jpg, Pahang, en route towards Cameron Highlands.]]

File:Selangor RIver 3.jpg at Ampang Pechah, backdropped by the Selangorean/Pahangese Titiwangsa.]]

File:Titiwangsa Mountains seen from Ayer Molek, Malacca.jpg countryside. They form the southernmost section of the Titiwangsa Mountains entirely.]]

This mountain range is a part of the wider Tenasserim Hills. It forms the southernmost section of the Indo-Malayan cordillera which runs from Tibet through the Kra Isthmus into the Malay Peninsula.Avijit Gupta, The Physical Geography of Southeast 0Asia, Oxford University Press, 2005. {{ISBN|978-0-19-924802-5}}

The Titiwangsa Mountains proper begin in the north as the Sankalakhiri Range, a prolongation of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Range which includes the smaller Pattani, Taluban, and Songkhla sub-ranges. The Sankalakhiri marks the border between the Southern Thai provinces of Yala in west and Narathiwat in the east. Across the border into Malaysia, the main stretch of the range runs in a northwest–southeast orientation, straddling the borders between the west coast states of Perak and Selangor with Kelantan and Pahang on the eastern side of the peninsula. From the tripoint of Pahang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan near Mount Nuang, it then transverses through the middle of the state of Negeri Sembilan, also a west coast state, thus dividing the state into two regions – western Negeri Sembilan, which consists of Seremban, Port Dickson and Rembau Districts, and eastern Negeri Sembilan, composed of the districts of Jelebu, Kuala Pilah, Jempol and Tampin – and terminates in the south near the town of Tampin, in the southern part of the state.Yaakub Idrus. Rumah Melayu Negeri Sembilan: satu analisis seni bina Melayu. Penerbit Fajar Bakti, 1966, p. 11. https://malaycivilization.com.my/omeka/files/original/a884b36ae16d4af41735580e8b03038b.pdf{{cite web|url=http://www.mdtampin.gov.my/en/visitors/places-interest |title=Places of Interest | Official Portal of Tampin District Council (MDT) |publisher=Mdtampin.gov.my |date= |access-date=2023-04-04}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273695651|title=Vegetation of Peninsular Malaysia.|accessdate=3 March 2024}}

Outcrops of Titiwangsa granite, mainly consisting of inselbergs, project further south into Malacca, where it abuts in the waters of the Strait of Malacca in Pulau Besar.{{cite web|url=https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/empat-kawasan-di-melaka-berpotensi-diiktiraf-geopark-kebangsaan-442910|title=Empat kawasan di Melaka berpotensi diiktiraf Geopark Kebangsaan|publisher=Astro Awani|date=2023-10-22}}

In general, the greatest elevations occur along the northern and central sections of the range, with its highest point measuring 2,183 m (7,162 ft) on Gunung Korbu, Perak. On the Thai side, the highest point is 1,533 m (5,026 ft) Ulu Titi Basah (ยูลูติติ บาซาห์), at the Thai/Malaysian border between Yala province and Perak.{{Cite web|url=https://geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-4622806&fid=6089&c=thailand|title=Gunong Ulu Titi Basah, Thailand - Geographical Names, map, geographic coordinates|website=geographic.org|accessdate=3 March 2024}} On the other hand, the height gradually diminishes towards the southern reaches of the range, which mainly runs through Negeri Sembilan, with elevations ranging from 1,462 m (4,797 ft) at its highest on Mount Besar Hantu, on the border between the state and Pahang, as well as 1,193 m (3,914 ft) on Mount Telapak Buruk on the boundary between the districts of Seremban and Jelebu to {{convert|500–900|m|ft}}.

File:Gunung Datuk Rocky Peak.jpg tor on the summit of Mount Datuk, Rembau District, Negeri Sembilan, towards the southern end of the mountain range.]]

File:Ipoh Kek Lok Dong (8367457996).jpg dot along the western foothills of the range in Kinta District, Perak, part of Kinta Valley National Geopark.]]

File:Lojing 5.jpg outcrop at Lojing, southwestern Kelantan, part of the Bentong-Raub suture zone flanking the range's eastern foothills.]]

File:Sunrise at Klang Gate Ridge.jpg on the western foothills of the range in Gombak District, Selangor.]]

The Titiwangsa Mountains are predominantly granitic. The mountain range is part of a suture zone that runs north–south, starting in Thailand at the Nan-Uttaradit suture zone (partly coincident with the Dien Bien Phu fault), and extending south towards Peninsular Malaysia (Bentong-Raub suture zone).{{cite book |last1=Racey |first1=Andrew |editor1-last=Buffetaut |editor1-first=Eric |title=Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Ecosystems in SE Asia |date=2009 |publisher=Geological Society of London |page=46 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6wMfMgSmckkC&q=Uttaradit/Dien+Bien+Phu+suture+zone |access-date=20 June 2019 |chapter=Mesozoic red bed sequences in SE Asia and the significance of the Khorat Group of NE Thailand|isbn=9781862392755 }} The eastern half of the Titiwangsa Mountains in Peninsular Malaysia is an amalgamation of continental terranes known as Cimmeria or Indochina, whereas the western half is an amalgamation of continental terranes Sinoburmalaya or Sibumasu. These two halves of terranes were separated by the Paleo-Tethys Ocean.Metcalfe, I., 2000, "The Bentong-Raub Suture Zone", Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, v. 18, p. 691-712Metcalfe, I., 2002, "Permian tectonic framework and palaeogeography of SE Asia", Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, v. 20, p. 551-566

The Cimmeria was separated from Gondwana around 400 mya during the Devonian and rifted towards Laurasia, the northeastern arm of Pangea. It attached to Laurasia completely around 280 mya during the Late Permian.

Sibumasu terranes on the other hand, only started to separate from Gondwana during the Early Permian and rifted towards Indochina. The collision of the Sibumasu terranes and Indochina terranes 200 mya during the Late Triassic resulted in the closure of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean and formation of the modern Titiwangsa Mountain belts.

{{see also|List of earthquakes in Malaysia}}

Peninsular Malaysia, while being tectonically stable, has a history of intraplate earthquakes,[https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/ada-kebarangkalian-gempa-bumi-berlaku-di-malaysia-nrecc-416163 Ada kebarangkalian gempa bumi berlaku di Malaysia - NRECC] astroawani.com 19 April 2023 with most of them of low magnitudes. As the Bentong-Raub suture runs parallel to the Titiwangsa Mountains, a large network of fault lines crisscross the mountain range.{{cite web | url=https://ipm.my/earthquakes-in-malaysia-should-we-be-worried-and-how-to-reduce-its-impact-on-our-buildings/#:~:text=Although%20Peninsular%20Malaysia%20is%20located,Crocker%20Range%20(East%20Malaysia). | title=Earthquakes in Malaysia: Should we be worried and how to reduce its impact on our buildings? | date=12 January 2022 }} The known major fault lines in the mountains are the Bukit Tinggi, Kuala Lumpur and Seremban fault lines, with the first two being the most active.

Between 1984 and 2013, there were tremors ranging from 1.6 to 4.6 on the Richter scale with local epicentres in Kenyir Lake, Manjung, Temenggor, Bukit Tinggi and Kuala Pilah, the latter three being situated along the Titiwangsa Mountains. As a precautionary move, the Department of Minerals and Geosciences pitched 23 Earthquake Benchmark (PAG, Malay: Penanda Aras Gempa) stations around earthquake-prone areas in Peninsular Malaysia, with 13 in Pahang, six in Selangor, and two each in Perak and Negeri Sembilan to monitor possible movements within the fault network.{{cite web | url=https://www.hmetro.com.my/mutakhir/2023/05/962481/gempa-bumi-rujuk-peta-bahaya-seismik-sebelum-reka-bangunan | title=Gempa bumi: Rujuk peta bahaya seismik sebelum reka bangunan | date=2 May 2023 }} The Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change (NRECC) also pointed out that strong earthquakes centred in neighbouring Sumatra, Indonesia could potentially activate ancient faults in Peninsular Malaysia and the effects of tremors could be felt around areas along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

File:Titiwangsa Mountains rainforest.jpg on the border between Pahang and Perak, part of the Central Forest Spine.]]

File:Central Forest Spine Marker, Bukit Putus.jpg, Negeri Sembilan.]]

File:Gunung Irau (The Mossy Forest) (25582962393).jpg on Mount Irau. Such forests are characteristic to the higher elevations of the Titiwangsa Mountains.]]

The rainforests of the Titiwangsa Mountains form part of the Titiwangsa Forest Complex, which is itself part of the larger Central Forest Spine conservation area. A number of roads and highways cut through the mountain range, effectively acting as mountain passes linking settlements on either side of the range.

File:Cameron Highlands (Tea Plantation).jpg plantation in Cameron Highlands]]

File:Genting Highlands by day.JPG, as seen from Kuala Lumpur]]

Several popular tourist destinations such as Royal Belum, hill resorts such as Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands and Fraser's Hill are located on the range.

Two of Malaysia's largest metropolitan areas are located along the western fringes of the mountain range, namely Greater Kuala Lumpur (ranked #1) and Kinta Valley (ranked #4). The Kinta Valley Geopark encompasses the entirety of Kinta Valley, where kegelkarst topography is prevalent.

• San Kala Khiri National Park
• Budo–Su-ngai Padi National Park
• Bang Lang National Park
• Namtok Sai Khao National Park
• Hala-Bala Wildlife Sanctuary

• Gunung Stong State Park
• Selangor State Park
• Kenaboi State Park
• Royal Belum State Park
• Krau Wildlife Reserve
• Kinta Valley National Geopark
• Forest Research Institute Malaysia

The mountain range was the subject of the patriotic song "Titiwangsa", which was first sung by Saloma. Its lyrics glorifies the magnificence and beauty of the Titiwangsa Mountains, and its significance to Malaya as a whole.

File:The Sea of Mist Ai Yerweng, Betong.jpg|View of the Sankalakhiri in Aiyoeweng, Yala, near the Bang Lang Reservoir.

File:เมืองเบตง - panoramio.jpg|City of Betong, Yala, with the Sankalakhiri Range towering in the background.

File:Peak of Banjaran Titiwangsa.jpg|The Titiwangsa Mountains seen from a layby along the East-West Highway near Gerik, Perak.

File:Korbu Peak.JPG|The peak of Mount Korbu, the tallest mountain of the range.

File:Yong Belar.jpg|View of Mts.Yong Yap (left), Bubu (middle) and Tok Nenek (right, with a characteristic col) from the northern side of Mount Yong Belar

File:Cameron highland.JPG|As viewed from Cameron Highlands

File:Banjaran titiwangsa2.jpg|The Titiwangsa Mountains tower over the North-South Expressway in Slim River, Perak.

File:View of Titiwangsa range from Fraser's Hill 3.jpg|View from Fraser's Hill

File:KarakTollPlaza.PNG|The eastern flank of the Titiwangsa Mountains, as seen from the East Coast Expressway near Karak, Pahang.

File:Chemperoh 5.jpg|A ford in Janda Baik, Pahang, along the trail to Mount Nuang

File:From a distance - panoramio (1).jpg|The Titiwangsa Mountains near Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor.

File:View of Batang Kali Town.jpg|The Titiwangsa Mountains near Batang Kali, Selangor.

File:Kuala Lumpur skyline late afternoon from 29-floor apartment 03.jpg|As seen from a residential skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur

File:Banjaran Titiwangsa di Seremban.jpg|The Titiwangsa Mountains seen from the North-South Expressway near Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Visible are Mts. Angsi (the mountain with the darker hue), Berembun and Telapak Buruk (background).

File:Istana Seri Menanti (30042023) 20.jpg|The Titiwangsa Mountains at Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan.

File:Banjaran Titiwangsa, Rembau.jpg|The southern section of the Titiwangsa Mountains in Kota, Negeri Sembilan. Mount Datuk rises to the east, which is on the right side of the picture.

File:Gunung Tampin.jpg|Mount Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, the southern terminus of contiguous Titiwangsa Mountains. Seen from Pulau Sebang, Malacca.

{{reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://archive.today/20110611064131/http://www.peraktourism.com/places/place_view.cfm?ID=5C56360D-E38A-45F6-8EF1E8C6A10CC08E Perak Tourism - Royal Belum State Park]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111222051140/http://www.tourism.gov.my/destinations/detail.php?theme=AD&map_code=gunungstong&state=kelantan Gunung Stong State Park]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150621164918/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=124&lg=2 San Kara Khiri National Park]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150710104433/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=119&lg=2 Budo - Su-ngai Padi National Park]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130522204341/http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=122&lg=2 Namtok Sai Khao National Park]
• [http://www.thaibirding.com/locations/south/hb.htm Hala Bala Wildlife Sanctuary]

{{Mountain ranges of Thailand}}

{{Mountain ranges of Malaysia}}

Category:Malay Peninsula

Category:Mountain ranges of Thailand

Category:Mountain ranges of Malaysia

Category:Peninsular Malaysia

Category:Southern Thailand