PULAU ULAR ABRASION PLATFORM GEOSITE

Pulau Ular Abrasion Platform Geosite is part of the remnant island located in the Straits of Kuah near Teluk Baru and the Tanjung Malai jetty. From far, the namesake island looks like a swimming snake with the head and body jutting out of the sea. The wave abrasion platforms are separated by small hills that were formed from the Singa Formation rocks of Devonian to Permian (370-275 million years ago).

Continuous wave erosion at low tides produces these platforms at heights between 0.5 and 3.5 metres above sea level now, which explains the different sea levels over the last thousands of years. This erosion process also produces other erosion features, such as steep cliffs, sea notches, sea stacks and sea caves.

Singa Formation rocks here also have many trace fossils and several locations of dropstones. The sandy beach between platforms provides a specific habitat for the mangrove Rhizophora stylosa, which has limited distribution in Malaysia. Pulau Ular inspired the myth of a giant snake who demanded the locals to perform human sacrificial rituals in return for safeguarding the ancient Kedah government from enemy threats.