Pagon Hill
| Pagon Hill | |
|---|---|
 Bukit Pagon in 2019 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,841 m (6,040 ft)[a] |
| Listing | Country high point |
| Coordinates | 4°17′40″N 115°19′20″E / 4.29444°N 115.32222°E |
| Naming | |
| Native name | Bukit Pagon (Malay) |
| Geography | |
  Pagon Hill Location in Brunei | |
| Country | Brunei |
| Districts of Brunei | Temburong |
| Mukim | Amo |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Hill |
Pagon Hill (Malay: Bukit Pagon; BOO-kit PAH-gon)[4] is the highest hill in Brunei,[5] located in the Temburong District. It rises to an elevation of 1,841 metres (6,040 ft) above sea level. While most of Brunei consists of low coastal plains, Bukit Pagon stands out on the southern margins where the terrain becomes more elevated.[1]
Geography
[edit]Bukit Pagon, located in the eastern part of Brunei along the border with Sarawak,[6] is the highest point in the country. It forms part of the main mountain range that rises from the swampy coastal plain and low hills of Brunei's interior.[7]
History
[edit]Following the 1962 Brunei revolt, Bukit Pagon was a strategic site in the final phase of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. In December 1962, Harrison Force, composed of two thousand Iban irregulars, was deployed south of Brunei and succeeded in capturing around 100 of the North Kalimantan National Army (TNKU) and Clandestine Communist Organisation. Later in the month, Lieutenant Rupert van der Horst of 42 Commando led a patrol to investigate intelligence about a TNKU baseon Bukit Pagon. The seven-day operation lasted more than ten days, with the Marines having to rummage around for food. Intelligence eventually discovered that Indonesian Lieutenant Sumbi and his men were moving toward Bukit Pagon, located near the Sungei Pasia river, which would provide a water route to safety. In June 1966, Sumbi had crossed over into Brunei with 50 men, leading to a mass search by British and Commonwealth forces, including the 1/7th Gurkha Rifles and the Gurkha Parachute Company. The operation, which had been sparked by the discovery of a tin coffee label, led to a two-week search across rugged terrain around Bukit Pagon. Eventually, Lieutenant Colonel Carroll initiated intensified operations with the approval of HQ Central Brigade. By 3 September 1966, 46 of the original 50 insurgents were dead or captured, with the last four being arrested shortly afterwards by the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment. Sumbi himself was captured near Bukit Pagon, which more or lessended the incursion and coincided with the conclusion of the Confrontation.[8][9]
Flora and fauna
[edit]
Bukit Pagon is home to a range of species. Among its notable flora is the rare pitcher plant Nepenthes lowii, which can be found growing on the mountain's slopes.[10] The area also supports moth fauna. One example is Biston inouei, described by Holloway in 1994, whose holotype male was collected at an elevation of 1,618 metres on Bukit Pagon.[11] Another species, Chrysocraspeda pagon, was also described by Holloway in 1997, based on a specimen collected at 1,670 metres on the mountain.[12]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Demaine 2003, p. 203.
- ^ Thiessen 2008, p. 89.
- ^ Franco 2023, p. 51.
- ^ Cohen, Saul Bernard (2008). The Columbia Gazetteer of the World: A to G. Columbia University Press. p. 2861. ISBN 978-0-231-14554-1.
- ^ BGN 1950, p. 64.
- ^ Mugnier 2023.
- ^ IUCN 1992.
- ^ Smith 2016.
- ^ Bijl 2014.
- ^ Phillipps & Lamb 1996, p. 57.
- ^ Scoble 2023, p. 86.
- ^ Scoble 2023, p. 157.
Bibiliography
[edit]- Franco, F. Merlin (2023). Ananta, Aris; Hoon, Chang-Yau; Mahani Hamdan (eds.). "Natural Ecosystems and Their Management in Brunei Darussalam". Stability, Growth and Sustainability: Catalysts for Socio-economic Development in Brunei Darussalam. ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute: 51–74. ISBN 978-981-5011-69-2.
- Mugnier, Clifford J. (2023). Coordinate Systems of the World: Datums and Grids. CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-000-81665-5.
- Scoble, Malcolm J., ed. (2023). Geometrid Moths of the World: A Catalogue. Vol. 1. Brill Publishers. ISBN 978-90-04-54200-6.
- Smith, E. D. (2016). Valour: The History of the Gurkhas. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-8167-5.
- Bijl, Nicholas van der (2014). Confrontation: The War with Indonesia, 1962–1966. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-78159-870-2.
- Thiessen, Tamara (2008). Borneo: Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-252-1.
- Demaine, Harvey (2003). "Brunei: Physical and Social Geography". The Far East and Australasia 2003 (34th ed.). Europa Publications. ISBN 978-1-85743-133-9.
- Phillipps, Anthea; Lamb, Anthony (1996). Pitcher-Plants of Borneo. Natural History Publications (Borneo). ISBN 978-983-812-009-8.
- Protected Areas of the World: A review of national systems. Vol. 1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. 1992. ISBN 978-2-8317-0091-5.
- Cumulative Decision Lists No. 5002. United States Board on Geographic Names. 1950.
External links
[edit]
- "Bukit Pagon, Brunei". Peakbagger.com.