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the Degree Confluence Project
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Malaysia

near Lahad Datu, Sabah, Malaysia
Approx. altitude: 235 m (770 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 5°S 62°W

Accuracy: 250 m (820 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View north from the road (opposite direction from the confluence). #3: View facing east along the road. #4: View facing west along the road. #5: Closes approach on the GPS. #6: This part of the Danum Valley is open to logging.

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  5°N 118°E (incomplete) 

#1: View south toward the confluence (250m away).

(visited by Brian Smith and Laurel Smith)

17-Nov-2007 --

This confluence is about one hour drive from the town of Lahad Datu heading to the Borneo Rainforest Lodge in the Danum Valley Conservation Area, a large protected rainforest in Malaysian Borneo. While heading to the lodge for a few nights stay, I asked our driver to stop so I could see if it would be feasible to hike to the confluence, which I could see from my GPS was about 250 meters south of the road. It quickly became clear that this would not be a trivial task. The dense foliage was like a solid wall that I doubt could be penetrated without a machete, which I did not have. I could also see that the plants were undercut by many small hidden streams that could further slow down progress. Under-equipped and short on daylight (and perhaps short on the patience of our driver and the Japanese tourist sharing our car) I decided to leave this confluence for a future traveler. Since I had already successfully visited 6N 118E earlier on this trip, I didn’t want to get too greedy :-)

It is possible that the dense vegetation is only present along the corridor of sunlight provided by the road. When we went hiking deep in the forest elsewhere on the trip, the canopy of trees actually makes for a rather clear forest floor. However, this might have been second-growth forest (there is logging allowed in parts of the Conservation Area) and sometimes that can be more over-grown than the old-growth forest that we experienced around the lodge. But given an hour, a machete, rubber boots, and sturdy clothing covering your arms and legs, I think it can be reached.


 All pictures
#1: View south toward the confluence (250m away).
#2: View north from the road (opposite direction from the confluence).
#3: View facing east along the road.
#4: View facing west along the road.
#5: Closes approach on the GPS.
#6: This part of the Danum Valley is open to logging.
ALL: All pictures on one page