Darvel Bay
Encyclopedia
Darvel Bay or Lahad Datu Bay is a bight
(large bay
) on the east side of Sabah
on the island of Borneo
. It is the largest semi-enclosed bay on the east coast of Borneo and faces the Sulawesi Sea. Administratively, it is within Tawau Division
, with Lahad Datu District
on the north side, Kunak District
in the middle and Semporna District
to the south of the bay.
Darvel Bay was a traditional haunt for pirates up to the end of the 19th century. Among the most famous pirates was Datu Kudunding.
The British operated the Darvel Bay Tobacco Plantations Ltd, in Lahad Datu District which was immortalized in the documentary film Urban Bioscope Expedition through Borneo by H. M. Lomas.
Bight (geography)
In geography, bight has two meanings. A bight can be simply a bend or curve in any geographical feature—usually a bend or curve in the line between land and water....
(large bay
Headlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
) on the east side of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
on the island of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. It is the largest semi-enclosed bay on the east coast of Borneo and faces the Sulawesi Sea. Administratively, it is within Tawau Division
Tawau Division
Tawau Division is one of the five administrative sub-divisions of Sabah, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It occupies a total of 14,905 square kilometers or 20% of Sabah's territory...
, with Lahad Datu District
Lahad Datu
Lahad Datu is a town and district located in Tawau Division, in the east of Sabah, eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. It occupies the peninsula on the north side of Darvel Bay. Its population was estimated to be around 118,000 in 1991 and 156,059 in the 2000 census. Lahad Datu is surrounded...
on the north side, Kunak District
Kunak
Kunak is a small town located in Tawau Division, east coast of Sabah in Malaysia. It was formerly a sub-district administered under the Lahad Datu District Office, but achieved its status as a full district on 1 June, 1981....
in the middle and Semporna District
Semporna
Semporna is a town located in Tawau Division, in the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Its population was estimated to be around 133,000 in 2006.-History:...
to the south of the bay.
Geography
Large parts of the shore of Darval Bay are mangrove swamps. Within the bay there are numerous islands, the largest, Timbun Mata Island, is located near the southern shore.History
The area around Darvel Bay has been inhabited for over 20,000 years. The limestone caves on the mainland and on the islands were used for prehistoric burials.Darvel Bay was a traditional haunt for pirates up to the end of the 19th century. Among the most famous pirates was Datu Kudunding.
The British operated the Darvel Bay Tobacco Plantations Ltd, in Lahad Datu District which was immortalized in the documentary film Urban Bioscope Expedition through Borneo by H. M. Lomas.
Further reading
- Saleh, Ejria et al. (June 2007) "Water circulation in Darvel Bay, Sabah, Malaysia" Abstract In: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (June 2007) Oceans 2007 – Europe Marine Technology Society, Oceanic Engineering Society (U.S.), Columbia, Maryland, pp. 1–6, ISBN 0-933957-35-1