Tasik Kenyir or Kenyir Lake is an artificial lake located in
Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu
Hulu Terengganu (Upper Terengganu) is an interior district of Terengganu, Malaysia. The seat of the district is Kuala Berang, located about from the state capital, Kuala Terengganu. The local government of this district is Hulu Terengganu Distri ...
,
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
, nestled deep in the
Pantai Timur Range. The lake was created in 1985 by the
Kenyir Dam
Sultan Mahmud Power Station or Kenyir Dam (Malay: Empangan Kenyir) is the hydroelectric dam which forms Kenyir Lake, Terengganu, Malaysia. It is located 50 km southwest of Kuala Terengganu on the Kenyir River. The project is a multipurpose h ...
on the
Kenyir River, the upper stream of the
Terengganu River
The Terengganu River ( ms, Sungai Terengganu) is a river in Terengganu, Malaysia. Originated from Lake Kenyir, it flows through the state capital of Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, and flows into the South China Sea. It is bridged by the Sultan Mahm ...
. The lake provides water to the nearby
Sultan Mahmud Power Station. It is the largest man-made lake in
mainland Southeast Asia
Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...
with an area of 260,000 hectares.
Flora and fauna
![Kenyir Lake 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Kenyir_Lake_2.JPG)
Kenyir Lake is also home to numerous species of freshwater fishes and exotic wildlife. With a water catchment area of 38,000 hectares, the lake is naturally a haven for freshwater fish. A recent study revealed that there are some 300 species of freshwater fish dwelling in the lake. The presence of dead trees around the lake serves as a perfect breeding ground for these fishes. Algae growing on dead trees and branches serve as the main form of sustenance for the fishes. From studies and observations conducted by the Department of Fisheries, species such as the ''big Lampam Sungai'' (
barboides
''Barboides'' is a genus of very small ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae from freshwater habitats in West Africa, West and Middle Africa.
Species
*''Barboides britzi'' Kevin W. Conway, Conway & Timo Moritz, Moritz, 2006
*''Barboides graci ...
), ''Kelah'' (Malayan
mahseer
Mahseer is the common name used for the genera '' Tor'', ''Neolissochilus'', '' Naziritor'' and ''Parator'' in the family Cyprinidae (carps). The name is, however, more often restricted to members of the genus ''Tor''.Sen TK, Jayaram KC, 1982. Th ...
or Tor tambroides), ''Toman'' (
snakehead), ''Tapah'' (
wallagonia leerii
''Wallagonia leerii'', also known as the Great Tapah, helicopter catfish, and formerly the striped wallago catfish is a species of catfish native to Southeast Asia. Its habitat ranges from the river drainages of Thailand through the Malayan penin ...
) ''Kawan'' (Friendly
Barb
Barb or the BARBs or ''variation'' may refer to:
People
* Barb (name), a list of people and fictional characters with the given name or surname
* Barb, a term used by fans of Nicki Minaj to refer to themselves
* The Barbs, a band
Places
* Barb, ...
), ''Kalui'' (Giant Gouramy) and ''Kelisa'' (
green arowana) are found in waters and around dead trees.
The jungles surrounding Kenyir Lake are home to some endangered species, such as
Asian elephants
The Asian elephant (''Elephas maximus''), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is the only living species of the genus '' Elephas'' and is distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west, Nepal in the n ...
and
Malaysian tigers
The Malayan tiger is a tiger from a specific population of the '' Panthera tigris tigris'' subspecies that is native to Peninsular Malaysia. This population inhabits the southern and central parts of the Malay Peninsula and has been classified ...
.
Tourism
Although a
reservoir
A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation.
Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...
, the area has been successfully developed for
eco-tourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide fund ...
, and there are many resorts on its shores. Fishing is popular, as are jungle treks, waterfalls and caves.
According to the locals, the best season for fishing is August when the water level is lower.
Popular spots for jungle trekking are Pengkalan Gawi, Bewah at the Terengganuan section of the
Taman Negara
Taman Negara is a national park in Peninsular Malaysia. It was established in 1938/1939 as the King George V National Park after Theodore Hubback lobbied the sultans of Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan to set aside a piece of land that covers the ...
, along the rivers of Saok, Lasir, Tembat and Lawit.
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...
,
canoeing
Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other acti ...
,
boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...
,
whitewater rafting
Rafting and whitewater rafting are recreational outdoor activities which use an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water. Dealing with risk is often a ...
and rapids shooting are among the many
water sports
Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a s ...
available here.
The Story of Lake Kenyir
A long time ago before being flooded, Kenyir Lake, once fertile and beautiful, was once part of the earliest settlement area in Hulu Terengganu.
Although it is no longer a reference, the names of villages such as Melor, Keliok, Berching, Evening, Mentong, Malacca, Kuala Terenggan, Kerbak and Belimbing will be heard when some of the hydro-electric dams are on track.
But now the story of the people who once lived far upstream of the Terengganu River was not something that was known. Most of the oral stories that descend from generation to generation have been forgotten.
Located in Kampung Dura, Kuala Berang named Abbas Othman is well known as a former resident who lived in the village on the base of Lake Kenyir before being flooded in 1984.
At age 77, Abbas can be said to be among the last generation of 'lake dwellers' who are willing to share life stories in his native village, Kampung Kuala Terenggan.
When sharing his childhood memory, Abbas admits that the life of the village about 60 years ago is far different from the present life.
He said the life of the village can be likened to being in a unique world.
Abbas said the position of a village apart from other settlements led the population to rely heavily on natural resources so that the ringgit did not have any value.
"When I was a kid I never saw money because the villagers did not use money to buy things.
"I like rice planting rice, I want to fish in the river," he said.
According to Abbas, money will only be withdrawn from guri (small shrimp) several times a year when residents want to go to Kuala Terengganu to buy salt and clothing.
He added that the ride on bamboo rafts to Kuala Terengganu about 50 kilometers from his village took four to five days.
"Traveling with bamboo rafts is very challenging as people are forced to catch a river that is rugged and rocky.
"Usually one raft contains three to four people. They will swing in turns. There was a time when the raft broke into the stream, "he said.
According to Abbas, life in the middle of the jungle that the people in the area had begun to get the attention of the government around the 1950s to suggest that residents move.
He said the government promised compensation of four hectares of land to those who moved to Kuala Berang.
"The first migration began in 1950 after the people felt that life in the forest was covered by poverty.
"They move in stages because some do not want to move because they love the vast garden and rice fields," he said.
According to Abbas, he and his family moved three times from Kampung Kuala Terenggan to Kampung Petang and to Kampung Berching before settling fully in Kampung Dura since 1959.
He added that the passage of a resident from the Kenyir Lake policy was about 20 years before the construction of the Sultan Mahmud Electric Power Station dam at Kampung Jenagor, Kuala Berang.
"As I remember, there are about 80 families involved in the first round of the move," he said.
Apart from residents from Kampung Petang and Berching, Kampung Dura is now also being shared by residents from Kampung Kelitok and Berching.
At present, the former village that turns into the lake is still visible on the riverbed which still retains its original name.
Story of Lake Kenyir
/ref>
References
External links
Tasik Kenyir main website
Tourism Malaysia - Kenyir Lake
Kenyir Information Site by the Central Terengganu Development Board
(Malay-language only)
Kenyir Eco Site
(English-language only)
{{East Coast Economic Region
Reservoirs in Malaysia
Tourist attractions in Terengganu
Landforms of Terengganu