Mesilou, named after Mesilou 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 Mesilou Nature Resort, which is owned and operated by Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.
Mesilou East River and Mesilou West River pass through the Mesilou area. Mesilou East River forms a deep ravine, and Mesilou Cave is located nearby.
One of the two main summit routes of Mount Kinabalu starts at the Mesilou Nature Resort and is called the Mesilou Trail. The Mesilou 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).
Flora
Mesilou is home to the only population of Nepenthes rajah pitcher plants accessible to regular visitors. The plants grow on a steep hillside overlooking Mesilau East River. A number of other Nepenthes species, including N. burbidgeae, N. fusca, and N. macrovulgaris, have been transplanted there from the area around the Mesilou Nature Resort on Pinausok Plateau. A single example of the rare natural hybrid N. lowii × N. rajah also grows nearby. 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. The tree species Ilex mesilauensis is named for the area and is only found here.
Climate
Mesilou has a subtropical highland climate (Cfb) with heavy rainfall year-round.
| Climate data for Mesilou | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °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) |
| Mean daily minimum °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 | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ Kurata, S. 1976. Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu. Sabah National Parks Publications No. 2, Sabah National Parks Trustees, Kota Kinabalu.
- Allen, E.F. 1971. "Collecting and Growing Sabah Rhododendrons" (PDF). In: Rhododendron and Camellia Year Book 1971. Royal Horticultural Society, London.
- ^ 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.
- Clarke, C.M. 2001. A Guide to the Pitcher Plants of Sabah. Natural History Publications (Borneo), Kota Kinabalu.
- Chilling out in a tropical destination Archived 23 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Jakarta Post, 12 June 2011.
- Hoo, P.K.; Khoo, E.; Maryani, A.; Maycock, C.R.; Nilus, R.; Pereira, J.; Sugau, J. & Tsen, S. (2019). "Ilex mesilauensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T126023236A126023239. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- "Climate: Mesilou". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
External links
- Sabah Parks Directory: Mesilou
- Kinabalu Park - Guide to Mesilou Summit Trail
- Mount Kinabalu Information Travel Guide: Mesilou
- Kundasang & Mesilou
- The Sabah Society Mesilou Trip, 26–27 March 2011
5°59′N 116°36′E / 5.983°N 116.600°E / 5.983; 116.600
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