GEMIH RIVER : CENTER OF GOLD MINING AT PAHANG

Rounsevelle Wildman,  was not only a writer but a high-profile American diplomat.

At the time, Wildman was serving as the U.S. Consul in Singapore (and later Hong Kong). His interests often blurred the lines between diplomacy, journalism, and speculative investment.

The Gemih River Discovery

The Gemih River (often spelled Sungai Gemee or Gemi)—is located in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. During the 1890s, Pahang was experiencing a massive "gold rush" as Westerners and local rulers sought to modernize mining operations.

Here are a few key details regarding Wildman's connection to that find:

• The "Specimen": Wildman was known for collecting curiosities and mineral samples during his travels through the Malay Peninsula. The piece of metal he "found" was likely a sample of auriferous (gold-bearing) quartz or an iron-rich gossan common in the Raub and Lipis districts.
• The Context: In 1894, Wildman was heavily promoting the economic potential of the "Golden Chersonese" (the Malay Peninsula) to American and European investors. Proving that even "ordinary-looking" rocks from the Gemih banks contained high gold content was a perfect way to drum up interest.
• The Literary Connection: Wildman later wrote about his adventures in his book, Tales of the Malayan Coast (1899). He had a flair for the dramatic, often blending his real-life diplomatic reports with the romanticized style of a travel novelist.

Why it Matters

Wildman’s report was significant because it helped put Pahang on the map for international mining syndicates. Shortly after this period, the Raub Australian Gold Mining (RAGM) company became one of the most successful gold mines in the region, proving that Wildman’s "discovery" wasn't just a tall tale—the gold was very much real.

COLONEL G.E.GERINI : GEMIH A PRIMARY GOLD MINING CENTER

Colonel G.E. Gerini was a renowned geographer and historian whose 1904/1909 work, Researches on Ptolemy's Geography of Eastern Asia, remains a cornerstone for understanding the ancient "Golden Chersonese" (the Malay Peninsula).

Gerini’s documentation of Gemih (also linked to the broader Mount Ophir/Gunung Ledang region) provides the historical "bridge" between the ancient legends of gold and the modern discoveries made by people like Rounsevelle Wildman.

The Significance of Gerini's Claims

Gerini's research highlighted that the gold of the Malay Peninsula wasn't just a myth from the time of King Solomon or Ptolemy; it was a functioning industry for centuries.

• The 1817 Cut-off: Gerini noted that Gemih served as a primary gold mining center for the Malays of Malacca until roughly 1817. After this period, large-scale local mining declined, partly due to political shifts in the region and the rising dominance of the British and Dutch in trade.
• The Malacca Connection: Because Malacca was a global trade hub, the gold from the Gemih area was often funneled directly into the city’s markets, sustaining its reputation as a "City of Gold."
• The Geography of "Ophir": Gerini was a major proponent of the theory that the "Ophir" mentioned in the Bible—from which King Solomon received shipments of gold—was actually the Malay Peninsula, specifically focusing on the area around Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir) and the rivers like the Gemih that flowed from its foothills.

Connecting Gerini to Wildman

The 80-year gap between the decline Gerini mentions (1817) and Wildman’s discovery (1894) is key:

• Lost Knowledge: By the time Rounsevelle Wildman arrived in the 1890s, many of the old Malay gold workings had been reclaimed by the jungle or were only known to locals.
• Validation: When Wildman found his "piece of metal" on the banks of the Gemih, he wasn't finding something "new"—he was essentially rediscovering the same veins that Gerini’s research proved had been lucrative for the Malays of Malacca decades earlier.
• The Investment Pitch: Wildman likely used historical precedents (like those later formalized by Gerini) to convince the world that the "Golden Chersonese" was ready for a second, industrial-scale gold rush.

THE "OPHIR" THEORY

Colonel G.E. Gerini’s "Ophir" theory is one of the most intellectually ambitious attempts to link the geography of the Bible and Classical Antiquity with the Malay Peninsula. In his magnum opus, Researches on Ptolemy's Geography of Eastern Asia (1909), he provides the scholarly backbone for the idea that the "Golden Chersonese" was the source of ancient world wealth.

Here are the specific pillars of Gerini’s theory:

1. The Identification of "Ophir" as the Malay Peninsula

Gerini argued that the biblical Ophir—the land from which King Solomon’s fleet (in partnership with King Hiram of Tyre) brought back 420 talents of gold—was not in Arabia or Africa, but was specifically the Malay Peninsula.

• The Voyage Time: He noted that the Bible describes a three-year round trip for the "Ships of Tarshish." Gerini calculated that given the monsoon winds and the navigational technology of the era, a journey from the Red Sea to Southeast Asia and back fit this timeline perfectly.
• The Multi-Commodity Cargo: The Bible mentions gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. Gerini pointed out that all these items were native to or traded through the Malay Peninsula and the neighboring islands.

2. Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang) as the Landmark

Gerini focused heavily on Gunung Ledang, which European mariners had dubbed Mount Ophir.

• While some skeptics argued the name was a later European imposition, Gerini believed the name reflected a much older local tradition or a survival of the term used by ancient traders.
• He linked the Gemih River and other tributaries flowing from the base of Gunung Ledang as the specific "washing grounds" where gold was historically harvested.

3. Ptolemy’s "Malaiou Kolon"

Gerini used his expertise in Ptolemy’s Geographia (2nd century AD) to argue that the place-name Malaiou Kolon (Cape Maleu-kolon) was a Greek corruption of a local term related to "Malay."

• He argued that the "Golden Chersonese" (Golden Peninsula) was the definitive Greek name for this region because the gold found there was of such high purity (often 22-24 carats).
• He specifically identified the Aurea Chersonesus as the southern part of the peninsula, centered around the gold-rich zones of Pahang and the foothills of Mount Ophir.

4. The 1817 Historical "Pivot"

As you noted, Gerini was specific about the date 1817. He used this year to mark the end of an era of traditional Malay dominance in the gold trade.

According to his research, the Gemih area was the last major stronghold of Malaccan-Malay gold mining before the industry was disrupted by regional wars, the fall of traditional power structures, and the eventual shift toward British industrial mining (which Rounsevelle Wildman would later help promote).

Summary Table: Gerini’s Evidence

Category	Gerini's Argument
Etymology	Linked "Ophir" to the Sanskrit Souphira or local Malay place-names.
Geography	Identified the "Golden Chersonese" as the Malay Peninsula.
Logistics	Proved the 3-year biblical voyage aligned with Indian Ocean monsoon patterns.
Mineralogy	Cited the unique "Gemih gold" as proof of high-quality ancient deposits.

Why Gerini Focused on Gemih

Gerini’s interest in Gemih was driven by its geographic and historical placement:

• The Pahang Gold Belt: Gerini recognized that Gemih sat on a specific "meridian of gold" that runs through the center of the Malay Peninsula (from Patani in the north, through Raub and Kuala Lipis, down to Gunung Ledang).
• Malaccan Control: He noted that during the height of the Malacca Sultanate, the Sultan’s wealth was largely underpinned by the gold brought from the interior (the Ulu). Gemih was a primary source because its gold was easily accessible via the river systems that connected to the Pahang and Muar rivers.
• The 1817 Decline: Gerini specifically documented 1817 as the year the Malay mining operations at Gemih faced a major downturn. This was largely due to the "Pahang Civil Wars" and the displacement of local populations, which left the mines "abandoned" until the arrival of Western explorers like Rounsevelle Wildman in the late 19th century.

1. The Location: Sungai Gemi / Sungai Gemih

Gemih refers to a specific river—Sungai Gemi (sometimes spelled Sungai Gemee).

• Geography: It is a tributary located in the Kuala Lipis district of Pahang.
• Proximity: Historically, it is associated with the Penjom area. Penjom is famous for being home to one of the largest and oldest gold mines in Malaysia.
• The "Mount Ophir" Connection: While there is a famous Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang) in Johor, historical texts often grouped the entire central gold-bearing mountain range under this "Ophir" umbrella. However, the Gemih site itself is firmly in the Pahang gold belt.

2. Why it’s not on Google Maps

You won't find a town named "Gemih" today for a few reasons:

• Mining Concessions: Much of the land around Sungai Gemi became part of massive private mining concessions (like the Penjom Gold Mine) in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The area is now mostly industrial or restricted mining land rather than a public settlement.
• Name Evolution: In modern Malay topography, it is often listed as Sungai Gemi. If you search for "Sungai Gemi, Pahang," you may find the waterway, but not a specific "city center."

3. How to "See" it Today

If you want to find the general vicinity on a map, look for these coordinates or landmarks:

• Penjom Gold Mine: Search for "Penjom Gold Mine" or "Mukim Penjom" in Pahang. This is the heart of the district Gerini and Wildman were describing.Located at the head of Perlu River, Mukim Pejom and near Kuala Lipis city. It is one of hte earliest Gold Mines in the state of Pahang, also the biggest gold mine in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It is owned by Avocet Mining PLC, a British Company. 
• Kuala Lipis: Gemih was historically accessed via the river systems near Kuala Lipis, which served as the administrative capital of Pahang during the British era (partly because of the gold in the nearby hinterlands).

The "Wildman" Spot

When Rounsevelle Wildman found his gold-bearing metal in 1894, he was likely exploring the banks of the Sungai Gemi near Penjom. Today, that specific spot is likely within the boundaries of a modern industrial gold mine, which is why it doesn't appear as a standard tourist destination or village on a map.

Google Gemini AI

19/2/2026: 11.48 p.m

THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD'S: FANTASTIC & AMAZING FACTS

1. Abu Simbel: a historic site comprising two massive rock-cut temples in the village of Abu Simbel, Aswan Governorte, Upper Egypt, near the border of Sudan. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th Dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. 
2. Aconcagua: the "Stone Sentinel", a physical giant at 6,961 meters, a mountain steeped in the spiritual history of the Inca Empire and the indigenous peoples of the Andes. For the Inca, Aconcagua was a Huaca, a sacred place. 
3. Acropolis of Athens: an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, Greece, the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, features several masterpieces of the 5th century BC "Golden Ages". 
4. African Ostrich : the largest of all living birds. A male ostrich can grow to a height of 3 metres and weigh up to 150 kg. The fastest creature on two legs. 
5. Almas: Abomidable snowman in southwest Russia - it measures about 2 metres in height, covered with black hair and has a broad flat nose. Sighting of this creature have been reported for over 2,000 years but no-one knows for certain if it really exists. 
6. Alocasia Macrorrhiza : found in Sabah, Malaysia > the largest speciman of leaves in the world, over 3 metres long and nearly 2 metres wide. 
7. Altair : the first home computer, available in 1975. 
8. Althing: The Althing is the parliament of Iceland, it is the world's oldest parliament , has been in existence since the 10th century.
9. Amazon Rainforest: in South America is the world's largest rainforest, covering an area of about 2.1 millior square miles. 
10. Andes Mountain Range: the longest continental mountain range on Earth, stretching 7,000 km (4,300 miles) along the western coast of South America. It extends through seven countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. The range is known for its high peaks, including Aconcagua, the highest point in the Western Hemisphere.
11. Angel Falls : the highest waterfall in the world - located in the country of Venezuela and is more than 3,000 feet high. 
12. Angkor Wat: a Theravada Buddhist temple complex and the largest religious complex in the world. Constructed during the reign of the Khmer King Suryavarman II between 1113 and 1150 CE.
13. Antarctica: is the world's driest continent, with an average annual precipitation on only 200 mm in the interior. 
14. Antibiotics : a chemicals produced by a micro-organism that can stop bacteria growth or destroy other bacteria. Their development has revolutionized the treatment of disease.  
15. Aral Sea: one of the most significant environmental disasters in history, having shrunk by roughly 90% since the 1960's. Once the world's 4th-largest inland body of water,it is located in Central Asia between Kazakhstan (north) and Uzbekisstan(South). 
16. Armillaria Ostoyae: the largest living organism in the world. A fungus which covers over 2,200 acres in Oregon, USA.
17. Aurora Borealis: commonly known as the Northern Lights, a natural light display caused by the interaction between charged solar particles and Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere. Locations : Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Findland, Alaska and Northern Canada. In the Southern Hemisphere, this phenomenon is called Aurora Australis. Coined by Galileo in 1619, the term combines "Aurora: (Roman Goddess of dawn) and "Boreas" (Greek god of the North wind). 
18. Ayers Rock : at Australia near the town of Alice Spring was discovered by an Englishman, W.G Goose in 1873 and was named after the Prime Minister of Australia Sir Henry Ayers. 
19. Baiji Dolphin: (Lipotes Vexillifer) - or Yangtze River Dolphin, a tragic but fascinating chapter in modern biology.Often called the "Goddess of the Yangtze", it holds the somber fistinctionof being the first dolphin species driven to extinctionby humans. 
20. Bajau Laut: often called "Sea Gypsies" - a nomadic maritime community that has inhabited the waters of Southeast Asia for over a thousand years. They spend their entire lives at sea, living on handcrafted wooden houseboats called lepa-lepa.They are renowned for their ability to freedive to depths of over 70 meters (230 feet) and hold their breath for up to 10 minutes while hunting for fish, squid, and sea cucumbers.
21. Basilica of Saint Peter: in the Vatican, the largest Christian Church in the world. Built in 1506 and completed in 1626. 
22. Basenjis: the only dogs that do not bark, once used in central Africa as hunting dogs. 
23. Basilisk: In Roman & Greek mythology -considered the king of Serpents, also called cockatrice, for it was hatched by a serpent froma cock's egg. 
24. Berlin Wall: a 155-km fortified barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Constructed by the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany), it was designed to prevent its citizen from fleeing to West Berlin and by extension, the Democratic West. Between 1961 and 1989, 140 people dies at the wall while trying to escape. The wall fell on November 9, 1989. 
25. Black Death : a bubonic plague that spread from Asia to Europe in the 14th century. The disease was carried by fleas on infected rats which were found on ships travelling from the Far East. It killed between 25 to 50 % of the European population. 
26. Bloodhound: often thought of as a Police dog, because of its keen sense of smell. 
27. Blue Whale: the world's largest animal , which can grow up to 100 feet (30 meters) long and weight as mus as 200 tons (180 metric tons). 
28. Book of Kells The most beautiful book in the world, produced by monks in the 9th century on the Hebridean Island of Iona. 
29. Borneo Island : The third largest island in the world, located in Southeast Asia's Malay Archipelago, shared by 3 countries, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. It houses the world's oldest rainforest.
30. Borzoi: a dog guilt much like a greyhound, is a notably fast runner. 
31. Boys of Santorin: the "Boxing Boys" fresco (C.1600-1700 BCE), a famous Minoan artifact discovered at Akrotiri on the island of Santoriin, Greece. 
32. Brachiosaurus : the largest dinosaurs which lived 140-165 million years ago.
33. Brandenburg Gate: an 18th-century neoclassical monument in Berlin, Germany. It marked the start of the road from Berlin to Brandenburg an der Havel,the former capital of the Margraviate of Brandenburg. 
34. Bratsk Dam: a massive concrete gravity dam and hydroelectrict power station on the Angara River in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. Completed in 1967, it remains one of the world's most significant hydrotechnical structures. Considered as one of the wonder of the world. 
35. Bucharest Palace: the Parliament of Bucharest located in Central Bucharest holds the title of the largest palace in the world in 2024.  
36. Bulldog: this dog was earlier trained to grab a bull by a nose and hang on its at all cost. Bull-baiting was banned in 1835 and bulldog is now a good-natured pet. 
37. Burj Khalifa : the world's tallest building is 828 meters tall. 
38. Cairo Citadel: a 13th century Islamic fortification in Cairo, Egypt. Built by Salah ad-Din (Saladin). 
39. Cape Finisterre: a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain. In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world. 
40. Caspian Sea: the largest salt water lake in the world by surface area,  Positioned at the crossroads of Eastern Europe, West Asia and Central Asia, the Caspian Sea is unique in its nature, resembling both a lake and a sea.
41. Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa:historical archaelogical site located in Alexandria, Egypt. It is a 2nd century funerary complex.
42. Centaurs according to Greek legend, were a race of creatures who were half man and half horse. 
43. Channel Tunnel: located at Straits of Dover, in the English Channel between U.K and France.Built in 1987 it is the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world. 
44. Chichen Itza : located at Mexico > a complex of Mayan ruins on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its iconic pyramid, has a rich history dating back to around 600 AD> 
45. Chihuahua: a dog originated from Mexico, the world's smallest breed of dog. Ranging in weight from 0.5 - 2.7 kg and standing about 13 cm at the shoulder. 
46. Chimera : In Greek Mythology, the chimera was a female fire-eating monster that was part lion, part goat and part serpent. She was slain by a young warrior callee Bellerophon, aided by Pegasus, the famous winged horse.
47. Chow Chow: the only breed of dog with a blue tongue. Used for centuries in China to hunt fame, and is also depicted on pottery of the Han Dynasty. 
48. Cluny Abbey: a 10th century Benedictine monastery in Cluny, Saone-et-Loire,France. 
49. CN Tower: Toronto,Ontario, Canada. Built in 1973, the tallest freestanding structure in the world from 1976 to 2007.
50. Colosseum:anelliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy.It is the largest ancient amphitheatre ever built. 
51. Colossus of Rhodes:a statue of the Greek sun god Helios, erected in the city of Rhodes, on the Greek Island. One of the seven wonders of the World. 
52. Compsognathus : was the smallest dinosaurs about the size of a hen. 
53. Cormorant Fishing: an ancient 1,300 year old traditional method where fisherman use trained birds to catch freshwater fish. It is now primarily preserved as a cultural performance and tourist attraction in Japan (Nagara River in Gifu City) and China (Guilin and Yangshuo). 
54. Christ the Redeemer (statue): an Art Deco statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Built between 1922 and 1931. 
55. Danyang-Kushan Grand Bridge: the longest bridge in the world, spanning an impressive 164.8 km along the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. 
56. Dead Sea : a salt lake between Israel and Jordan, where people float easily in this Dead Sea due to its high salt concentration, which makes the water incredibly dense that pushes you upwards to float easily. It is also the world's lowest point on land at 1,388 feet below sea level. 
57. Deer Cave : located at Mulu National Park, Miri, Sarawak,Malaysia > the world's largest cave passage, can occupy 40 Boeing 747 jetliners. 
58. Dimetrodon: a solar-powered lizard, had a large fin on its back thought to be used for taking heat from the sun, the same way as a solar panel does today. 
59. Dinosaur: the world 'Dinosaur' comes from Latin and Greek meaning 'terrible lizard'. 
60. Diplodocus : the biggest plant-eater dinosaur which measures over 23 metres from nose to tail. 
61. Dome Fuji: the coldest place on Earth located at Antartica with temperature 93.2 degrees celcius. 
62. Domeire : the first refrigerator for use in home was manufactured in the USA in 1913. 
63. Ely Cathedral: originally built in the 11th century in Ely,Cambridgeshire, England. The cathedral cantrace its origin to the abby founded in Ely in 672 by St. Aethelthryth. 
64. Emperor: the largest penguin which is also the world's largest sea bird. 
65. Empire State Building: New York City. U.S.A > built in 1930, tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1970, first building 100 ++ stories.
66. ENIAC : stands for Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator > The first completely electronic computer was built between 1942 and 1946 by J.Presper Eckert  and John W. Mauchly at University of Pennsylvania, USA.
67. First World Hotel : located at Genting Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia > the world's largest hotel with 7,351 rooms. 
68. Forbidden City of China: the former Imperial residence of the Chinese Emperor in Beijing. Built by Emperor Yung Lo. Until 1912, it was the official residence of the emperors of the last two dynasties, the Ming and the Qing. 
69. FRIM: The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, Kepong, Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia > the world's largest manmade Rainforest. 
70. German Sheppard: a dog used as police dogs, dogs for the blind and guard dogs. 
71. Giza Pyramid: home to the Great Pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure and Great Sphinx.Built between the 4th Dynasty (2600 - 2500 B.C).
72. Golden Gate Bridge: San Francisco, U.S.A > longest main span of any suspension bridge in the world from 1937 to 1964. 
73. Goreme: a town in the Nevsehir District in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is well known for its fairy chimneys, eroded rock formation, many of which were hollowed out in the Middle Ages to create Christian churches, houses and underground cities. 
74. Grand Canyon: the largest canyon in the world - located at USA. 
75. Great Barrier Reef: 50 miles of Queensland, Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system and is visible from space. It is one of the wonders of the world. 
76. Great Wall of China: built over 2,000 years ago, stretches over 13,000 miles (21,000 km) and is visible from space. 
77. Greenland: the world's largest island, located in the Arctic and covers an area of about 836, 330 square miles. 
78. Hagia Sophia: a 6th century cathedral and mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. Formerly a church (360-1453) and a museum (1935-2020).Since 2020, the building has functioned as an active mosque, officially named the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque. 
79. Hanging Gardens of Babylon: one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World listed by Hellenic culture. Built by the Neo-Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 B.C) for his wife Queen Amytis. 
80. Hereford Cathedral: The largest remaining chained library in the world. It houses 1500 books. 
81. Himalayas: the highest mountain range in the world - it has the world's highest peaks, Mount Everest. The range cross territories of six countries, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Bhutan, India and Afghanistan.
82. Hypselosaurus: The largest dinosaur eggs ever found -  live some 80 million years ago, measuring 300 x 255 mm, discoverd in Southern France in 1961. 
83. Iguazu Falls:Waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Parana. Together, they make up the largest waterfall system in the world. 
84. Istanbul: famously known as the "City with three names", referring to the major historical identities it has held over its 2,600 year history: Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul. 
85. Itaipu Dam: Parana River, border between Brazil and Paraquay.The largest operating hydroelectric facility in the world in terms of annual energy generation. 
86. Kampung Kuantan Firefly Park : Located in Kuala Selangor, Malaysia > home of one of the biggest firefly colonies in the world. 
87. Kek Lok Si Temple : at Ayer Itam, Penang, Malaysia > houses the largest Buddhist Temple complex in the world.
88. Kimberley Mine : the "Big Hole" an open-pit and underground mine in Kimberley, South Africa, considered the deepest hole excavated by hand, contending the title with Jagersfontein Mine. Founded by Alyrick Braswell on Colesberg Kopje by member of the "Red Cap Party" from Colesberg at Vooruitzigt Farm.
89. Krakatoa Eruption: the 1883 eruption was one of the most violent and famous volcanic events in modern history. It culminated on August 27, 1883,in the Sunda Strait, Indonesia, causing global shockwaves and climatic cooling.The eruption produced the loudest sound ever recorded in human history. It was heard 3,000 miles (4,800 km) away as far as Perth in Australia and Rodriguez Island in the Indian Ocean. The tsunamis reasing up to 37 meters destroyed 165 coastal towns in Java and Sumatera, with official records estimated 36,417 deaths.
90. Kraken: a giant octopus, squid, sea serpent and whale. It was reported at the beginning of the 18th century off the coast of Norway. 
91. Labrador: originally trained as a hunting dog in the 19th century in Newfoundland and was named after the Labrador region of that colony. 
92. Lake Baikal: in Siberia > the world's deepest lake, measuring one mile deep. It is also the world's oldest lake, about 25 million years old. 
93. Lake Superior :  @ North America > the largest freshwater lake in the world, covers more than 83,000 sq km and about 200 different rivers flow into it.
94. Lake Titicaca: a large freshwater lake in the Andes mountains on the border of Bolivia and Peru. It is the highest navigable lake in the world. 
95. Lake Turkana: famously known as the "Jade Sea" for its striking turquoise color. Located in the Great Rift Valley of northwestern Kenya,it is the world's largest permanent desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake. In 1984, The Turkana Boy was found,the most complete early human skeleton ever discovered - a 1.5 millior year old Homo Erectus.
96. Lake Volta: the largest artificial reservoir in the world based on surface area.Lcated in the country of Ghana. 
97. Leaning Tower of Pisa: a 12th century bell tower in Pisa, Italy. It is known for its 4-degree lean,the result of an unstable foundation. 
98. Lighthosue of Alexandria: a lighthouse built by Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, during the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (280-247 BC). One of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 
99. Lutine Bell: the bell that came from HMS Lutine, which sank during a storm off the Dutch coast in 1799. It was recovered in 1859 and now hangs in the insurance house Lloyds of London. 
100. Loch Ness Monster : known affectionately as Nessie, is a mythical creature in Scottish folklore. 
101. London Underground: the first passenger underground railway opened in London on 10 January 1863. With over 400 km of routes, it remains the longest underground system in the world.
102. Louvre Museum: the biggest museum in the world and one of Paris's most famous tourist attractions which covers an area of 782, 910 sg.feet. 
103. Machu Picchu: in Peru > renowned for its perfectly preserved stone buildings and terraces. Once it served as a royal estate or sacred retreat for the Inca emperor Pachacuti in the 15th century. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. The city remained 'lost' in jungles for almost 400 years until 1911 when Hiram Bingham from Yale University re-discovered the place. 
104. Magna Carta : was issued in June 1215 and was the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law.It sought to prevent the king from exploiting his power, and placed limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself.
105. Mariana Trench: the deepest place on earth, located at Pacific Ocean, it's 36,201 feet (11,034m) deep. That's almost seven miles. 
106. Mask of Agamemnon: famous gold funerary mask discovered in 1876 a the ancient site of Mycenae, Greece, by a German archaelogist Heinrich Schliemann. Archaelogist suggests the mask dates to approximately 1550 -1500 BC. 
107. Mauna Loa  : the largest volcano in the world > located in Hawaii - about 6 miles tall from the sea floor to be opening. 
108. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: a tomb built between 353 and 351 B.C. inHalicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey) for Mausolus, an Anatolian from Caria. One of the seven Wonders of the World. 
109. Megalosaurus  : the meat-eating dinosaur - the first dinosaur to be identified by scientist in 1677. 
110. Morse Code : a method of sending message by a series of long and short signals. The signals are sent using a telegraph or by flashes with a torch. In written form dots represent short signals, dashes long ones. 
111. Mount Everest:  located in the Himalayas, is the  highest point on Earth at 8,848 meters above the sea level. 
112. Mount Fujiyama : located at border of Yamanashi and Shizuoka, 100 km southwest of Tokyo. Japan's tallest peak and most iconic symbol, It is an active Stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707. 
113. Mount Kilimanjaro: located in northeastern Tanzania, Africa, is Africa's highest peak and the world's tallest free-standing mountain.
114. Mount Rushmore: the famous mountain in Dakota, USA - the faces of 4 famous Presidents have been carved, George Washington,Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. Those heads are visible for 60 miles, completed in 14 years by Gutzon Borglum and his son, Lincoln. 
115. Namib Desert: stretching over 2,000 km along the Atlantic coast of Namibia, Angola and South Africa, is widely considered the most ancient desert on Earth. Geologists estimate it has endured arid or semi-arid conditions for at least 55 to 80 million years. 
116. National Anthem: the oldest National Anthem is the Kimigayo of Japan , in which the words date from 9th century. 
117. Nautilus: the world's first nuclear powered submarine. In 1958, Nautilus commanded by William R. Anderson, made an unusual journey to the North Pole, when the icy waste was crossed from underneath the ice. 
118. Nazca Lines: series of massive ancient geoglyphs etches into the desert sands os Southern Peru. Created primarily between 500 BCE and 500 CE,the remain one of the archaelogy's greatest enigmas due to their scale and the fact the many are best view from the air. 
119. Nineveh: an ancient Near Eastern City of Upper Mesopotamia, located in the modern-day city of Mosul in northern Iraq. It was the capital and largest city of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. 
120. Nile River  : the longest river in the world - it is 4,184 miles long. Its flows through 9 countries and empties in the Mediteranean sea. 
121. Nordmann's Greenshank : the world's rarest birds has been spotted at Kuala Selangor Nature Park, Selangor, Malaysia. 
122. North Cape (Nordkapp) : a 307-metre high sea cliff located on the island of Mageroya in Northern Norway. It is the "northernmost point of Europe". 
123. North Pole and South Pole: the coldest areas on earth. 
124. Notre-Dame de Paris: Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris - a medieval Catholic cathedral on the lle de la Cite (an island in the River Seine),in the 4th Arrondissement of Paris, France. It is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris. 
125. Ogopogo: a monster spotted in Lake Okagagan, British Columbia. The serpent-like creature is thought to measure from 10-20 metres long. First sighting of the Ogopogo were recorded in 1872. 
126. Ojos del Salado : towering stratovolcano located on the border between Argentina and Chile in the Andes Mountains. It is the highest volcano on Earth and the second-highest peak in the Western Hemisphere and South America, standing at an elevation of 6,893 meters (22,615 feet). It's also known for being one of the Seven Continental Volcanic Summits.
127. Old City of Jerusalem: a 0.9 sq km walled area in Jerusalem. The Old City, along with its walls, was added to the World Heritage Site list of UNESCO in 1981.
128. Onychophagia: the technical term for bitting your nails. 
129. Orang Utan: Asia's only great Ape - only found in Sabah and not found anywhere else in the world. 
130. Ostrich: the largest and heaviest living bird. 
131. Pacific Ocean: the deepest and the Biggest ocean in the world, covers 46% of Earth's water surface. 
132. Panama Canal: Isthmus of Panama, built in 1880 - one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. 
133. Perak Man : The world's oldest complete human skeleton ever found in Lenggong,  Hulu Perak, Malaysia, dating back some 11,000 years. 
134. Pegasus was a legendary winged horse created from the blood of Medusa. 
135. Pekinese: a small dogs from Beijing (formerly Peking).
136. Petra : located at Jordan, a ghost - town. The ancient name "Rose City" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven Modern Wonders of the World.
137. Petronas Twin Towers : at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia > the iconic 88-storey twin towers -the tallest twin buildings in the world & the highest two-storey bridge that connect the towers. 
138. Phoenix was a mythical bird of Egypt lived for 500 year then burn itself to death on a large fire. After death it was reborn, and rose from the ashes.
139. Pirarucu : Also known as Arapaima,one of the biggest freshwater fish in the world found in River Amazon. 
140. Porcelain Tower of Nanjing: a 15th century pagoda on the south bank of Qinhua River in Nanjing, China. Built during the Ming Dynasty, destroyed in the 19th century during the Taiping Rebellion. 
141. Potala Palace: a museum complex in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It was formerly the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas. Built in 1645 it served as Dalai Lama residence from 1649 until 1959. 
142. Precontinent II  : also known as Conshelf II, a pioneering underwater habitat project launched by Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1963. Situated in the Red Sea as Sha'ab Rumi,Sudan, it served as an experimental underwater "Village" designed to prove that human could live and work on the sea floor for extended periods. 
143. Proterosuchus: similar to its modern day descendant, the crocodile, measured about 1.5 metres long, had a powerful jaw and a long tail. 
144. Puerta del Sol : The Sun Gate, a monolithic stone archway located in the ancient city of Tiwanaku (Tiahuanaco), western Bolivia. Considered one of the most important archaeological artifacts in South America and masterpiece of pre-Columbian stone-cutting. 
145. Putrajaya Roundabout  : located at Putrajaya,Malaysia > the world's largest roundabout with a diameter of 3.5 km. 
146. Pomelo @ Citrus Maxima > the largest citrus fruit in the world found in Malaysia.
147. Pony Express:The first reliable postal service in the west. It started up in 1860 with 400 horses and 80 riders It had 150 changing posts laid out alongthe trail. The route began in Missouri to Sacremento, California. 
148. Rafflesia : the world's largest flower found in Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia. It can grow up to 3 feet (one meter) in diameter and weigh up to 22 pounds (10 Kg). 
149. Recuyell of the Historyes of Troy : The first book printed in English in 1474 at Belgium. 
150. Roman Colosseum: or the Flavian Amphitheatre, an enduring symbol of Ancient Rome's engineering prowess and entertainment culture. Built around 70 - 80 AD, it's the largest amphitheater ever built and has stood the test of time.
151. Rottweiler: a dog from Germany > once used for herding cattle, it's make excellent guard dogs and are very faithful. 
152. Ruins of Hattusa: the remains of the ancient capital of the Hittite Empire, a major Bronze Age power that ruled central Anatolia and parts of Northern Syria between 1600 and 1200 BCE. Located near the village of Bogazkale in Turkey's Corum Province, designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986.
153. Sahara Desert: located in North Africa, is the world's largest desert, covering an area of approximately 3.6 million square miles. 
154. Sarawak Chambers : located at Mulu National Park, Miri, Sarawak > the world's largest natural rock chambers. 
155. Sasquatch: also known as Bigfoot, a large, hairy, ape-like creature of North American folklore. Often described as a bipedal hominoid standing between 6 and 15 feet tall, covered in dark hari and leaving large footprints. 
156. Semaphore: a signalling system using two flags. The way in the flags are held represent the letters of the alphabet. It was adopted by the British Navy in ajbout 1816, for ships to communicates with one another.
157. Sipadan Island : located at the Coast of Sabah, Malaysia > One of the richest marine habitats in the world and the best Diving site in the world . 
158. Solenodon: rat-like creatures hava saliva tht is sufficiently toxic to kill one another. 
159. South Pole: the first women to reach South Pole in 11 November 1969 were Lois Jones, Kay Lindsay, Eileen McSaveney, Jean Pearson, Terry Lee Tickhill and Pam Young. 
160. Sphinx : In Greek mythology - said to be daughter of the chimera. She had wings, a woman's head, the body of a lion and a serpent's tail. 
161. St.Bernard dogs: have saved many lives in alpine snows. It is the heaviest of all the domesticated dogs. 
162. Statue of Zeus: a giant seated figure made by the Greek Sculptor Phidias around 435 B.C. at the santuary of Olympia, Greece. One of the Seven Wonders of the World.
163. Stegosaurus: a dinosaur, had the smallest brain of all the dinosaurs. Its brain was only about the size of a walnut. 
164. Stonehenge : a Neolithic henge monuments in wiltshire, England dated to the 3rd millennium B.C.
165. Sunway Lagoon : located at Bandar Sunway, Selangor , Malaysia > had the world's largest man-made sandy surf beach. 
166. Taj Mahal: in India - world Heritage Site. Taj Mahal blends elements from Islamic, Persian, Ottoman Turkish, and Indian architectural styles.
167. Taman Negara : Malaysia's National Park > the oldest Natural Rainforest in the world. 
168. Temple of Artemis : the temple was built at Ephesus in Turkey in 350 BC. It stood for 600 years until it was finally destroyed by the Goths in AD 263. Artemis was Diana the goddess of the moon. One of the seven Wonders of the World.
169. Temple of Karnak: at Luxor, Egypt - the world's largest religious space. Karnak is the shrine of the God Amun. 
170. Three Gorges Dam: officially known as Yangtze River Three Gorges water Conservancy Project., the world's largest dam and power station. 
171. Tower of London: built by William the Conqueror after he crossed the channel to conquer England in 1066. 
172. Trans-Siberian Railway : located in Rusia > the longest railway in the world, completed in 1916 runs from Chelyabinsk in the Ural Mountains to Nakhoda. Connection to Moscow, and extensions to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. The entire journey of some 9,250 km takes over 8 days to complete. 
173. Triceratops: a dinosaur tha had three horns, one over each eye and one on the nose. The Triceratops ate only plants. 
174. Tsar Bell: also known as Tsarky Kolokol, Tar Kolokol II or Royal Bell, a 6.14-metre tall, 6.6-metre-diameter bell, on display on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin. The bell was commissioned by Empress Anna Ivanovna, niece of Peter the Great. It is the heaviest bell in the world. 
175. Tualang Tree : the world's tallest tropical tree found in Malaysia - base diameter over 10 feet (3m) and reaches height of around 262 feet (80m). 
176. Tyrannosaurus : the largest ever meat-eating creature which lived some 70 millions years ago. 
177. Unicorn is a beautiful creatures of fable which resembled a horse but bore a single long horn in the centre of its forehead, with white body red head and had blue eyes. 
178. Ural Mountains: a mountain range in Eurasia, that runs north-south mostly through Russia, from the coast of the Artic Ocean to the river of Ural and northwestern Kazakhstan. It forms part of the conventional boundary between the continents of Europe and Asia.
179. Victoria Falls: a waterfall on the Zambesi River, located on the border betweenZambia and Zimbabwe. One of the World's largest waterfalls. It was identified by David Livingstone in the falls of 1855. 
180. Whippet: the fastest domestic dogs, can run up to 55 km per hour. 
181. Windsor Castle  : the world's largest inhabited castle, it has been the home of British royalty for over 900 years. 
182. Yeti: an ape-like creature purported to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. In Western popular culture, the creature is commonly referred to as the Abominable Snowman.On 8 November 1951, the British Mountaineer and explorer, Eric Shipton took photographs of Yeti's footprints in the snows of the Himalaya.
183. Ziggurat of Babylonian : a massive, stepped temple platforms that served as the spiritual and administrative hearts of their cities. Among it was ZIggurats of Babel (Etemenanki), Ziggurats of Borsippa, Ziggurat of Dur-kurigalzu.

OTHERS

1. The earliest book known to be printed with wooden blocks is a Buddhist scroll printed in China in the year 868. 
2. The Romans were the first to fasten together sheets of parchment on one edge, producing the shape of the book as we know it today. 
3. In 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg of Germany began printing, that moveable type came into general use. 
4. The word 'Dinosaur' comes from latin and Greek meaning "Teribble lizard".. 
5. The first time a radio was fitted in a car was in August 1921 at the suggestion of the Cardiff and South Wales Wireless Society. 
6. The first car to be fitted with a reversing light was the Wills-Sainte Claire, an American automobile built in 1921. 
7. George I was the King of England from 1715 to 1727. He could not speak English, only German. 
8. The word "Jeans" comes from the name of the city of Genoa in Italy. Genoan sailors used to wear trousers of a thick, canvas-like material. The French called them Genes. 
9. The world's first crossword puzzle was published in the USA on 21 December 1913. 
10. The Chinese were the first to have used paper money produced in1368.
11. From May 1841 to May 1842 the people of Mexico used bars of soap as money. 
12. The first dollar coin was issued in Bohemia (now Czech Republic) in the 16th century. 
13. The first adhesive postage stamp was issued by Britain on 6 May 1840. 
14. Dogs can hear very high and very low noises that humans cannot. They can detect sounds that are 4 times farther away than humans are to hear. 
15. There are 2 kinds of elephants: African elephants with very big ears and Asian elephants with smaller ears. 
16. A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away!
17. There are five oceans in the world: the Artic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern. The Pacific Ocean is the biggest ocean in the world. 
18. The first use of paper was in AD 105 when a court official, Ts'ai Lun suggested writing on a solid mixtures of pounded rags and wood - pulps. 
19. The Blue penguin, living along the southern coast of Australia was the smallest member ofthe penguin family, measuring some 30 cm in height. 
20. The great French General Napoleon Bonaparte was afraid of cats. 
21. The area around the North Pole is called the Artic. The area surrounding the South Pole is the Antartic. 
22. The first adhesive postage stamp was issued by Britain on 6 May 1840. 
23. A flower worn over the leaf ear in Hawaii signifies that a woman is no longer single. 
24. There are at least 6 people in the world who look exactly like you. There's a 9% chance that you'll meet one of them in your lifetime. 
25. The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896, and lasted only 38 minutes. Zanzibar surrendered after just 12 minutes of fighting, and the remaining 26 minutes spent on ceasefire negotiations. 

Reference:

1. 1000 Fantastic Facts : Peter Eldin - Grandreams Limited (1999). 

2. 366 and More Wonders of the World - Brown Watson

3. Zulheimymaamor Blogspot : Facts about Malaysia

4.  Zulheimymaamor Blogspot : Who' Who in History

5.  Zulheimymaamor Blogspot : Who's Who in Military

6.  Zulheimymaamor Blogspot : Who's Who -Criminal and Crime Victims

7.  Zulheimymaamor Blogspot : Who' Who in Entertainmnent World

8.  Zulheimymaamor Blogspot : The First in Record

9.  Zulheimymaamor Blogspot : Malaysia - What You Need To Know

10. Whereig.com : List of 100 Wonders of the World

11. The 200 Wonders of the World

THE LAST FLIGHT OF AMELIA EARHART

The disappearance of Amelia Earhart remains the ultimate cold case of the 20th century. In 1937, she was the world’s most famous female pilot, attempting to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe.

Here is the breakdown of that fateful final leg and the theories that still haunt historians today.

The Mission: June–July 1937

Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, were flying a twin-engine Lockheed Electra 10E. After completing 22,000 miles of their journey, they departed from Lae, New Guinea, on July 2, 1937.

Their destination was Howland Island, a tiny speck of land in the middle of the Pacific, only 1.5 miles long.

The Breakdown of Communication

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Itasca was stationed at Howland to guide them in. However, a series of technical failures led to disaster:

• Radio Confusion: Earhart could hear the Itasca, but the Itasca could not hear her clearly.
• Signal Strength: Her final transmissions indicated she believed she was over the island but couldn't see it.
• The Final Message: At 8:43 AM, she radioed: "We are on the line 157 337... we are running on line north and south." After that, there was silence.

The Leading Theories

Despite the largest search in naval history at the time, no trace was found. This void has been filled by three primary theories:

Theory	The Premise	Evidence/Status
Crash and Sink	The plane ran out of fuel and ditched in the deep ocean near Howland Island.	Most widely accepted by scientists. Recent sonar imagery (2024) suggests a plane-shaped object on the seafloor.
Gardner Island	They landed on Nikumaroro (then Gardner Island), lived as castaways, and eventually died.	TIGHAR researchers found bones (later lost) and artifacts like a woman’s shoe and a 1930s sextant box.
Capture/Spying	Earhart was captured by the Japanese or was acting as a U.S. spy.	Largely considered a conspiracy theory with no credible physical evidence.

Why It Still Matters

Earhart wasn't just a pilot; she was a cultural icon who shattered "the glass ceiling" before the term even existed. Her disappearance turned a record-breaking attempt into a permanent legend, fueled by her final letter to her husband, George Putnam:

"Please know I am quite aware of the hazards. I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried."

Google Gemini AI

16/2/2026: 8.54 p.m

MH370: UNSOLVED MYSTERY AND SEARCH

On March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) vanished with 239 people on board, triggering the most expensive search in aviation history and a mystery that remains unsolved over a decade later.

As of February 2026, here is the current status of the search, the evidence found, and the theories that persist.

Current Status (2026 Update)

The search has entered a critical new phase. After several years of suspension, the deep-sea exploration company Ocean Infinity resumed operations on December 30, 2025.

• The Mission: Operating under a "no find, no fee" agreement with the Malaysian government, Ocean Infinity is using a fleet of Armada 86 autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). These drones are equipped with advanced sensors, including magnetometers to detect metal buried under seafloor sediment.
• Recent Findings: As of late January 2026, the search has covered a high-priority 15,000 square kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean. While technology has improved, no significant wreckage has been reported in this latest sweep.
• Legal Milestone: In late 2025, a Beijing court ordered Malaysia Airlines to pay compensation to the families of victims, providing a measure of legal accountability despite the lack of physical closure.

The Evidence: What We Know

While the main fuselage remains missing, physical and digital "bread crumbs" have painted a haunting picture:

Type of Evidence	Details
Satellite "Handshakes"	Inmarsat satellite data showed the plane flew for 7+ hours after losing radar contact, ending in the southern Indian Ocean.
Physical Debris	Over 30 pieces of debris (including a wing flaperon and a stabilizer) have washed up on the coasts of Africa and Indian Ocean islands (Réunion, Madagascar).
The "7th Arc"	Analysis of the final satellite ping created a search zone known as the 7th Arc, where the aircraft likely ran out of fuel and descended.
Flight Simulator	Investigators found a deleted flight path on Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah’s home simulator that mirrored the path taken by MH370 into the southern Indian Ocean.

Top Theories

Because the "black boxes" haven't been recovered, investigators and the public are left with several competing scenarios:

Pilot Action (Mass Murder-Suicide): The most widely discussed theory. Proponents point to the deliberate nature of the turn-back and the disabling of communications. The theory suggests the cabin was depressurized to incapacitate everyone before a long, silent flight on autopilot.

Hypoxia (The "Ghost Flight"): A sudden mechanical failure (like a decompression event) could have incapacitated the crew. The plane would then continue on its last programmed heading (autopilot) until fuel exhaustion.

Unlawful Interference (Hijacking): The possibility that a third party or a crew member took control. However, no group ever claimed responsibility, and no ransom demands were made.

WSPR Tracking: A newer scientific approach uses "Weak Signal Propagation Reporter" (WSPR) data—radio signals that act like "invisible tripwires" in the sky. Some researchers claim they can track MH370's precise movements using these disturbances.

The Enduring Question

The core of the mystery is not just where the plane is, but why it made that sharp, initial turn away from its path to Beijing. Without the Flight Data Recorder, we may never know if it was a desperate attempt to save a failing plane or a calculated final act.

Reference:

1. Wikipedia : Malaysia Airline Flight 370
2. Wikipedia : Search of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370
3. Reader's Digest
4. The Guardian : MH370: One of Aviation's biggest mysteries remains unsolved 10 years on. 
5. The Times of India : MH370 -Mass Murder, Hijack or glitch?

Google Gemini AI

16/2/2026: 8.24 p.m