To Claim this Earthcache:
1. Visit the Site in Person:
A) Post photos of you and your visit, including one of an interesting geological feature (we will accept the point of land showing the effect of the waves on the stone)
B) How far do you estimate from the flag pole to the tip of land? (measure with GPS if you can)
2. Home Research:
A) Post three interesting pieces of information you discovered about the geology, biodiversity, or political situation of the South China Sea and/or the Sulu Sea.
Site Geology Information:
"Tanjung" means cape or promontory, and "Simpang Mengayau"; is Bajau (local language) words meaning "the junction or convergence where a battle took place". While the local name harkens back to the days when pirates ruled these strategic waters, burying treasure on off shore islands near here, the name carries a more immediate if unintentional meaning given the struggle for political domination of the vast natural resources in the area.
The waves, driven by storms in two seas, have carved the sandstone into interesting and irregular shapes here. Commonly found in cliffs and coastal features such as the Tip of Borneo, sandstones are clastic in origin (as opposed to organic, like chalk and coal, or chemical, like gypsum and jasper). They are formed from cemented grains that may either be fragments of a pre-existing rock or be mono-minerallic crystals. The cements binding these grains together are typically calcite, clays and silica. Grain sizes in sands are in the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm (clays and rocks with smaller grain sizes including siltstones and shales are typically called argillaceous sediments; rocks with larger grain sizes including breccias and conglomerates are termed rudaceous sediments).
Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray and white. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions.
Some sandstones are resistant to weathering, yet are easy to work. This makes sandstone a common building and paving material. The waves at this convergence have done the work to create the cliffs and features you see.
South China Sea Information:
The South China Sea to the Western world (or Southern Sea to the Chinese, Eastern Sea to the Vietnamese, Luzon Sea to the Filipinos), is perhaps the most disputed and extremely significant body of water in a geopolitical sense. Oil, natural gas, fish, and sea traffic drive the conflicting claims.
States and territories with borders on the sea (clockwise from north) include: the mainland China, Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Nearly all of these countries are pressing often overlapping claims to the islands and waters of the Sea.
The South China Sea has proven oil reserves of around 1.2 km³ (7.7 billion barrels), with an estimate of 4.5 km³ (28 billion barrels) in total. Natural gas reserves are estimated to total around 7,500 km³ (266 trillion cubic feet). If political disputes could be solved, surely more natural gas and oil could be found.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines, has found the South China Sea (Luzon Sea to them) holds one third of the world's marine biodiversity, so the sea is very important area for our ecosystem and represents an important source of fish and seafood.
It is the second most used sea lane in the world. Over 50% of world annual merchant fleet tonnage passes through the Strait of Malacca, the Sunda Strait, and the Lombok Strait.
The South China Sea lies above a drowned continental shelf. Major rivers feeding it include the Pearl, Min, Jiulong, Red, Mekong, Rajang, Pahang, and Pasig Rivers.
Sulu Sea Information:
The Sulu Sea is a large sea in the southwestern area of the Philippines. It is separated from the South China Sea in the northwest by Palawan, and the Tip of Borneo. It is separated from the Celebes Sea in the southeast by the Sulu Archipelago.
The Sulu Sea contains a number of islands. The Cuyo Islands and Cagayan Sulu are part of the province of Palawan while Cagayan de Tawi-Tawi and the Turtle Islands are part of the province of Tawi-Tawi. Sulu Sea is also where the Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park, one of the World Heritage Sites is located.
Area History and Travel Tips:
This cliff jutting out into the waters where the two seas meet remained largely unknown except to the locals in Kudat and the rare visitor who somehow made their way here. Just in the last few years as Sabah discovered this stunning piece of land. The government called it "The Tip of Borneo," built a road leading here, and created a washroom block and cafe.
We expect luxury hotels to follow some day, since we found a big chunk of pristine beach nearby for sale while researching this cache. If only our family had not sold the coconut plantation South West of the café, we could be developing a hotel now.
For a worthwhile day trip from KK, visit to the longhouses and local market in Kudat. There are several fantastic deserted beaches very near by (maybe pick your favorite sea) perfect for relaxing on.