|
|
|
|
|BACK |Next|
A Journey to trace the Selangor River
|
The river in the most populated state of Selangor starts from the hill resort of Frasers and end up in the Malacca Straits.
|
|
|
This week we decided to catch glimpses of these magnificent views, people using the river would see on its way down from the hills. However, we chose to get started from the end, driving inland and upstream to trace its flow from end to the beginning. From the sea inwards, the first view was that showing the broadness the river has grown into before ending its journey.
|
|
Scene 1 Fishing boats bringing their catch to land at Pasar Pemborong at Kuala Selangor town. In the background, the new bridge gives a good perspective of the river's width. Earlier sites give more details as to what can be seen around Kuala Selangor. |
|
|
|
Scene 2 Moving 10 kilometers upstream, stretches of river banks here made famous for watching fireflies in the night. See our fireflies Nightly, busloads of oversea visitors would make that 70 kilometers journey from Kuala Lumpur to watch this spectacular phenomenon |
|
Scene 3 Upstream again, through the Palm oil estates of Batang Berjuntai and into an area of the ex-Pacific Tins complex. Here were traces of that desert like environment left behind in the dredges' paths. Large plots of lands were rehabilitated for agriculture purpose. A proper road now passes through this "desert" land, our ex-fishing haunts. |
|
|
|
A 45 kilometers paved road follows the Selangor River from Batang Berjuntai along its northern bank to the heart of this tin mining belt that stretches to Rawang. For 20 kilometers the road passes through the wetlands of the Kuala Selangor plains. Then it leaves the flatland to cross over the hills to Sungei Tengi in the north. |
|
For us to remain with river bank, we followed a slip road at a signboard that indicated "Sungei Tinggi". At that point of turn off, this road was already far too away from the river. The path this slip road was built meanders through the huge Felda Land Scheme. On the map, above this road is represented by a red line |
|
Scene 4 Driving along this remote but heavily used road, we found the tiny marker that the locals had hinted. It was shown as "10M" , see the shape of that sign besides Khoo! The track departed the modern land scheme and went into estates of the "old days". |
|
The district we had driven into was that of the Rasa hinterland, a colonial mining town. At this juncture we had driven away over 30 kilometers from Kuala Selangor and were some 20 kilometers away from the Federal Route 1 at Rasa.
|
|
Scene 5 The new track we stumbled on went through mixed cultivation, palm oil and rubber estates. The total length was a mere 3 kilometers. It ended up in a ex-settlement with abandoned estates' offices and workers quarters and not far away - the Selangor River. From here onwards, the track gave a very assuring feeling, sandy trail of the open country. The river on the driver's side and the open lands allowed us to see well ahead. This track was broad, clean and without pot holes. |
|
Scene 6 The flow of the river at this point brought forth a more pleasant sight as compared to the stagnated scenes at lower stretches. The color was that of orange mud, improving from the brownish silt at Batang Berjuntai. This picture was taken at the confluence of the Kerling and Selangor Rivers. |
|
|
Further down from this spot, just after the confluence, the river broadened up. Efforts were being made to have a silt trap installed along the river. It can be seen as a waterfall over the river. |
|
From the lowland, across the Federal Route 1, the river changed gear -started charging down the rapids.
|
|
Scene 11 A typical scene of the upper reaches of the river. This is the controversial Germanchy River flowing through its gorge. A significant change was the quality of the water. Together with the right environment , the sites around here were good picnic spots. In some area it is even suitable rafting. |
|
Scene 12 As we moved further up stream, the flow got even more aggressive sieving through rocks and boulders. This scene punctuated our moods to reward ourselves with the good results for the exercise of tracking the river. Seeing the actual scenes, moods of the river and the utilization of the river is like unfolding a story before us. We realized the importance of the river to those people whose livelihood depended on a health and unfailing supply of good water. |
|
|
Life along the Selangor River Endless stories can be written about life along the river banks, we have chosen a few! The new Expressway had open up many previously unknown areas. Evident was, hive of added activities could be seen as recent and the access road serving these "industry" was well maintained, very broad and well used.
|
|
|
The presence of the expressway has drawn attention to its potential and the existence of this vicinity even though they were not linked at all. At this point where the river passed under the Expressway, locals continued to use an old track beside the river bank. This part gets sealed up when it rains upstream. |
|
There is a proper underpass provided by the Expressway builder but it meant a long detour to the underpass a kilometer further north and another way out to Rasa.
|
|
Industrial operators mining for sand had invested to maintain the track for their transporters. The bridge seen here is done with a rickety design. Couldn't wait to see how the bridge withstood the frequent flash floods! |
|
|
|
Another observation, engineering students will have a field day here, understudying the physic and strength of bridges. The builder for this next bridge has opted for a higher structure and larger supports. |
|
This is yet another bridge. Another good Samaritan had utilized pieces of scraps from the tin mines to keep the crossing in shape. As long as it doesn't give way under heavy load, his conscience is clear and happy that he or they had helped. |
|
|
Numerous scenes along the track were almost irresistible and tempting enough to fishing enthusiastic for him to bring out the equipment and have a few casts. From past experiences, the area being easily accessible and so close to urbanized area, get degraded in no time- a long time ago. To spend time at the pond-yes, to get bumper catch, not likely.
|
|
|
The area west of the Expressway gets more remote as it moved further away from Rasa. The whole locality had many ideal places for fisherman and nature lovers. This natural wetland pond was filled with water lilies, someone could had thrown some seedlings in for propagation. |
|
Huge ex-mining ponds, so large and time had revoked its shores into its natural state. Must had been a haven for fisherman at one time. There were still some eager amateurs attempting to see miracles. |
|
Main commercial activities of the region is poultry farming, vegetables, fish farming and sand mining.
|
|
The river bed was dredged in many spots by a host of individuals. These mountain of sands were familiar scenes. The happenings could be the cause for the color of the polluted river. From the rate of mining done, the inexhaustible harvest only showed that the silting was building up faster than the removal. |
What would have happened if such large scale mining stopped?
|
For the purpose of mining and farming, many gigantic water pumps were seen siphoning water for their daily use. |
|
|
If the proposed dam is built, the lower volume of water or the complete stoppage of fresh water flowing down coupled with large amount of pollutants thrown into the river, the end results is unthinkable. Or what is the use of that polluted water and their amount? It is frightening to think about the changes in the river, its supply of water, its eventual quality and the final impact on the livelihood of those depending on the water. The scene along the dead river if its hinterland is no longer habitable.
|
|
|
On a lighter note to end the story An unusual scene and a luxury that these buffalos had found. Taking a cool dip in the shade. Commuters on top using the Expressway would envy them, if they come to know of such sanctuary. |
 |
Khong's Travel Guide |
 |
| BACK| Also log on to my Main Index Site on Destinations
