The Land

Peninsula Malaysia is bordered by coastal plains on both sides, and highlands form a backbone through the centre. Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia are more rugged and mountainous, and contain some of the world's richest rainforests. Here there are about 3,000 different species of tree and a huge variety of wildlife including the orang utan, tiger and Asian elephant.67% of the whole country is still covered with a blanket of tropical rainforest. However, the rainforest area could be halved over the next 25 years to make way for new housing, industrial areas, dams and an improved road network.

The Climate

Malaysia experiences a hot and humid climate because it lies close to the equator.

Temperatures reach 32° on average during the day, except in the hills where it is a cooler 24°.; Although convectional rain showers are common as the warm, moist air rises quickly in the tropical heat, monsoon winds bring more prolonged periods of heavy rain at two times of the year. From November to February, the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia is drenched by the north-east monsoon. Meanwhile, the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia is wettest between July and September because of the south-west monsoon

To see how the climate varies across Peninsula Malaysia, click on the three locations shown on the map: