Mount Kinabalu
Mount Kinabalu (Malay: Gunung Kinabalu, Dusun: Gayo Ngaran or Nulu Nabalu) is the highest mountain in Borneo and Malaysia. With an elevation of 4,095 metres (13,435 ft), it is third-highest peak of an island on Earth, and 20th most prominent mountain in the world. The mountain is located in Ranau district, West Coast Division of Sabah, Malaysia. It is protected as Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage Site.
| Mount Kinabalu | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,095 m (13,435 ft) |
| Prominence | 4,095 m (13,435 ft) Ranked 20th |
| Isolation | 2,513 km (1,562 mi) |
| Listing | Country high point Island high point Ultra Ribu |
| Coordinates | 06°04′30″N 116°33′31″E |
| Naming | |
| Native name |
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| Geography | |
Mount Kinabalu Map showing location of Mount Kinabalu within Malaysia. | |
| Location | Ranau, West Coast Division, Sabah, Malaysia |
| Parent range | Crocker Mountains |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | March 1851 Hugh Low (summit plateau) 1888 John Whitehead (highest peak) |
| Easiest route | Hiking |
In 1997, a re-survey using satellite technology established its summit (known as Low's Peak) height at 4,095 m (13,435 ft) above sea level, which is some 6 m (20 ft) less than the previously thought and hitherto published figure of 4,101 m (13,455 ft).
The mountain and its surroundings are among the most important biological sites in the world, with between 5,000 and 6,000 species of plants, 326 species of birds, and more than 100 mammalian species identified. Among this rich collection of wildlife are famous species such as the gigantic Rafflesia plants and orangutans. Mount Kinabalu has been accorded UNESCO World Heritage status.
Low's Peak can be climbed by a person in good physical condition and there is no need for mountaineering equipment at any point on the main route, but climbers must be accompanied by accredited guides at all times due to national park regulations and may experience altitude sickness.