Perak is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia and it is famed for its natural tropical forests. The state is not only blessed with its white sandy beaches along its coastline as well as its underwater world, Perak is also endowed with natural rainforests that go back to millions of years.

The Titiwangsa Range or Banjaran Titiwangsa is the main mountain range that forms the backbone of Peninsular Malaysia. It divides the peninsula into the east and west coastal regions. The northern section of this range is in Southern Thailand, known as Sankalakhiri Range while it ends in the south near Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan. The foothills extend into Johor.

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There are two protected areas along the Malaysia-Thailand border. These protected areas are Stong State Park on the east and the Royal Belum State Park on the west, namely in Perak. The Royal Belum State Park was gazetted as Belum Forest Reserve in 1971 and in 2007, it was re-gazetted as a State Park. In 2012 it was gazetted as a National Heritage Site, the highest recognition accorded by the Government of Malaysia. Today, the Royal Belum State Park is under the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Site and is referred to as the Crowning Glory of the Peninsula.

The highest elevation is Gunung Korbu at 2183 metres. Gunung Korbu is the second highest peak in Peninsular Malaysia and is also located in Perak. Visiting the Titiwangsa Range is not just for anyone as it involves climbing, hiking and exploration of several mountains. However, it would be good to know about the Titiwangsa Range before making a trip there (for those who are fit).

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The Titiwangsa Range spans 35,000 square kilometres. Besides being one of oldest rainforests in the world, it is home to many wildlife. The place supports the largest tiger population in Malaysia. The endangered Malayan Tapir, the Sumatran rhinoceros and several species of hornbills dwell in these rainforests. It is also home to many of the indigenous people (orang Asli) in Malaysia.

The Temenggor Dam is located in the Gerik sub-district of the Hulu Perak District. The Temenggor Dam, which is also known as the Temenggor Hydro-electric Project or Temenggor Power Station is located on the Perak River, about 200 kilometres northeast of Ipoh, the capital city of Perak. The construction of this dam completed in 1979 and is presently one of the largest hydro-electric generation facility in the country. At an elevation of 258 metres above sea level, the Temenggor Dam covers an area of 152 square kilometres and has a maximum storage of 6 billion cubic metres.

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The outcome of the construction of Temenggor Dam is the Temenggor Lake. This man-made lake is the second largest in Peninsular Malaysia after the Kenyir Lake in Terengganu. Temenggor Lake is located about 45 kilometres from the Gerik town. The lake is divided into three different zones, namely conservation zone, recreational fishing zone and commercial zone. The lake is a freshwater breeding ground.

Another man-made facility in the Temenggor Lake is Pulau Banding. The Lake Temenggor Bridge on the East-West Highway crosses the Temenggor Lake and Pulau Banding.

Pulau Banding covers an area of slightly less than 13, 000 hectares and had a population slightly over 600 in 2015. More than 60 percent of the land is covered by jungle and about 11 percent is used for rubber planting. Pulau Banding can be used as a gateway to eco-tourism in Temenggor Lake and Royal Belum.

Bersia Dam is a hydro-electric generation facility in the upper reaches of the Perak River, about 20 kilometres from Temenggor Dam, at an elevation of 143 metres above sea level. The dam covers 5.7 square kilometres and has a maximum storage of 70 million cubic metres. There is a grazing reserve on the east of Bersia Dam.

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