A part of Gunung Keriang that is said to resemble a ship.

Source: Berita DIMENSi/(Nisaa Iryanie)

ALOR SETAR - Fans of extreme sports can come to Gunung Keriang to test themselves, the uniqueness which includes crystals as well as challenging caving and hiking trails.

There is no problem for those who want to explore the cave during the rainy season, because there is a lower chance of being trapped inside, but still, safety needs to be prioritized due to the slippery rock surface.

Some of the crystal stones that can be found in the cave.

Source: Berita DIMENSi/(Afiq Asri)

According to Nur Susila Md Saaid, 47, the Senior Assistant Director of the Department of Minerals and Geosciences Malaysia, Kedah, the crystals in Gunung Keriang are a source of minerals and are closely related to the type of rocks in Gunung Keriang itself.

"Calcite crystal is a crystal that has a low level of hardness and cannot be made into accessories such as rings, chains, and so on," she explained when interviewed with Berita DIMENSi.

Not just that, Gunung Keriang is the result of a collection of limestone that is over 250 million years old and is an option for new climbers due to its low altitude for a mountain.

She added that at a height of 217.92 meters, Gunung Keriang is one of the lowest 'mountains' but rich in a variety of rock types and has caves on the hill, as well as being estimated to have at least 10 types of rocks in it.

Nonetheless, because of the different chemical content in Gunung Keriang, this type of crystal can still be used as jewelry by crystal enthusiasts to be placed in their living room area due to the crystal's attractive colour.

At the foot of the mountain, rows of shops were found selling crystal-based accessories at reasonable prices depending on the texture and shape of the crystal.

John Chriss, 67, a mountain guide at Gunung Keriang, said that every week, several hard-core crystal seekers will enter the cave to find crystals to support their lives, but the activity is temporarily disrupted due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) for the last two years.

The collected crystals are sold to interested buyers, especially crystal fans of Chinese descent, and are used as decorations or for spiritual-related matters according to their beliefs.

According to Abdul Rahman Hussin, 39, the owner of Escape Zone Kedah, said that the area of Gunung Keriang was engulfed under the sea millions of years ago and this can be proven by the discovery of shells and wave erosion around Gunung Keriang itself.

"If we look at Gunung Keriang itself, there is a groove formed as a result of tidal wave erosion that occurred millions of years ago," he said in an interview with Berita DIMENSi.

The main entrance of Gua Terus is called the Pelamin section by locals.

Source: Berita DIMENSi/(Afiq Asri)

He said inside the cave, some rocks resemble crocodiles, and the place is named Dataran Buaya. However, the incident was merely a mere coincidence due to the erosion of naturally formed rocks.

There are several caves found in Gunung Keriang, such as Gua Terus, Gua Pokok Sireh, Gua Sanding, and Gua Telur, that can be visited by climbers.

“The caves in Gunung Keriang are different from Gua Tempurung (Perak) and Gua Kelam (Perlis) because the caves on the mountain are high on the hill compared to the caves in the two states, which are low above or below the ground,” said Abdul Rahman.

Those who are interested in activities in Gunung Keriang can contact Escapezone Kedah to book mountain guides and other services.

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