Malaysia is covered by tropical rainforests. Large rivers, fed by nearly 10 feet of rain (about three metres) a year, flow from the country's highlands into warm tropical seas. Together, these three ecosystems - forest, river and sea - make Malaysia one of the world's 17 most diverse countries. (A magnificent country is one that is home to most of the Earth's species and has many endemic species, or those found only in one place on the planet.)
Malaysia's rainforests are also home to several endangered species, including Sumatran rhinoceroses, pygmy elephants and Bornean orangutans in East Malaysia. Malayan tigers and Indochinese leopards roam the Malay Peninsula. Several species of sea turtles, including olive ridley, beaked, green and leatherback turtles, swim in the warm waters of the South China Sea.
Malaysia has several large nature reserves and national parks throughout the country. Taman Negara National Park, established in 1939, is the country's oldest national park. Located on the Malay Peninsula, Taman Negara protects one of the world's oldest rainforests, dating back more than 130 million years and once home to dinosaurs.
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