GC23026 PANTAI KERACHUT - Meromictic Lake (Earthcache) in Malaysia created by Pedrera

GC23026 ▼

A cache by Pedrera Message this owner

Hidden : 11/4/2009

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Geocache Description:

"The Meromictic Lake" can be found in the Penang National Park which is located at the North-East corner of Penang and fronts the Straits of Malacca. It is about 30km from Georgetown (45 minutes by bus from KOMTAR to Teluk Bahang), which is located approximately 400km from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

There are two main paths/trails in NP Penang: 1st to Muka Head with 'worth-to-see' Muka Head lighthouse (path via beautiful Monkey Beach) and 2nd to Teluk Kampi (via Meromictic Lake). From Main Entrance in Teluk Bahang, where you should register yourself and obtain entry permits (during year 2009 was entrance FREE!), it takes cca 1 hour trek to get to the Meromictic lake...

Meromictic Lake Meromictic Lake - Entrance Pantai Kerachut Beach

A meromictic lake is a lake that contains a partially mixed or wholly unmixed water layer that combines with the main water source during a given cycle. This process is known as a Meromixts. At Pantai Kerachut, the lake is comprised of both fresh and salt water. The term Monimolimnion refers to the calm and current less state of the water layer in the lakebed while the term Mixolimnion refers to the free flow state of the meromictic lake's upper layer of water. The margin between the two layers is known as the Chemocline.

The Meromictic lake in Pantai Kerachut is essentially a lagoon. It is the only lake with meromictic characteristics in Malaysia and its total area is estimated to be approximately 2.77 square km. The lake receives its water supply from 5 river tributaries that flow into it as well as from seasonal inundations of seawater.

The lake also alternaly drains and fills at specific periods each year. This phenomenon occurs in April and May each year when the inter-monsoon period, a transitional phase between the North East monsoon (November to March) and the South East Monsoon (May to September), is in effect. This period is characterized by strong winds and powerful waves accompanied by heavy rains. The winds and the strong waves cause sea water to inundate the lake while, simultaneously, blocking the outflow of the lake's waters into the sea via sand deposition.
Consequently, the lake is inundated by both salt and fresh water leading to the formation of 2 layers of water with differing temperatures i.e., the upper layer comprising cool fresh water and the bottom layer made up of warm salt water. The separation of the 2 layers is also attributable to density differences i.e., salt water having a higher density than freshwater.

The lake's subsequent desiccation is attributable to several factors. Among them, is the reoccurrence of the inter-monsoon period, that signals the transition from the South West Monsoon (May to September) to the North East Monsoon (November to March), in October each year. This period often causes the occurence of strong winds and waves which erode the sand deposits that block the flow of water from the lake into the sea and this subsequently drains the lake. Other factors include an overflow of lake water that erodes the aforementioned sand deposits thus causing the lake to be voided. In Malaysia, the meromictic lake is found only on Pantai Kerachut within the Penang National Park.

Conditions for confirmation:
1) Picture of you or your GPS (near the lake) attached to your log
Send me via email answers for these questions:
2) Maximum depth of the lake /in feet/
3) Who firstly used word Meromictic?

NOTE: Do not wait for my confirmation, if you believe you have successfully completed all Earth Cache goals and have already sent answers as requested, please, feel free to log it as FOUND. I will verify your answers later and, if necessary, contact you directly in order to make corrections to your log...

PENANG National Park
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Land: 1181.949 ha
Sea: 1381.014 ha

NP Penang - The main entrance (Teluk Bahang)

A) The main entrance to the park is located in Teluk Bahang. Visitors should register themselves and obtain their entry permits at the Penang National Park counter in Teluk Bahang.
B) The second entrance to the park is located at the Kuala Sungai Pinang estuary in Balik Pulau. Visitors from Balik Pulau can gain access to the Penang NP via the Kuala Sungai Pinang estuary. To enter the park, visitors should board the tourist boats berthed at the estuary. The Kuala Sungai Pinang estuary consists of a mangrove forest and is an ideal location for bird watching as it is a roosting area for numerous bird spices (among the birds commonly sighted include Brahminy Kite, the common Sandpiper, the lesser Heron and the White-Bellied Sea Eagle).

Useful links:
Map of Penang
Transportation (RAPID Penang)
Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Malaysia)