Pulau Besar (Johor)

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Besar Island (formerly known as Pulau Babi Besar) is an island off the east coast of Johor, Malaysia. It is accessible by boat from Mersing town (approximately 30 minutes). The island's highest point rises some 2,000 feet above the sea level.

The island which is surrounded by Rawa Island, Sibu Island and Tinggi Island is characterized by quiet, clean beaches of powdery white sand and crystal-clear azure waters.^{[citation needed]} To preserve the unspoiled marine life, the Government has gazetted it as a marine park to protect around 60 species of marine life from any activities that can harm their natural habitats within 2 nautical miles around the island.

Rich hues of wild vegetations are dappled throughout with the lush greens of the coconut palms and tropical jungles. There are about 7 - 8 small villages that are still populated by around 100 friendly dwellers who are mostly fishermen.

A local myth was about a fisherman couple who transformed into mermaids. This legend is so popular among the local folks that they believed at one time, a pregnant fisherman's wife was craving for a kind of seaweed, that is plentiful in the Mersing waters. After eating, she turned into a mermaid and the heartbroken husband became one too after eating the same seaweed. Until today, it is claimed that mermaids floating in couples can sometimes be spotted eating seaweed around the island.

This island got its former name, Pulau Babi Besar, (directly translated as "Big Boars Island") from the numerous wild boars that roamed the island before man inhabited the place. Nowadays, there is not a single boar on the island and thus, the island was renamed as Besar Island.

[edit] External links

Malaysia Travel Guide: Locally known as Pulau Besar or Besar Island

v • d • e Johor Darul Ta'zim

Districts	Batu Pahat • Johor Bahru • Kluang • Kota Tinggi • Kulaijaya • Ledang • Mersing • Muar • Pontian • Segamat

Cities	Johor Bahru (capital)

Towns	Ayer Bemban • Ayer Hitam • Air Papan • Bakri • Bandar Baru UDA • Bandar Dato' Onn • Bandar Nusajaya • Bandar Penawar • Bandar Tenggara • Batu Enam • Batu Pahat • Bekok • Benut • Bukit Batu • Bukit Gambir • Bukit Kangkar • Bukit Kepong • Bukit Naning • Bukit Pasir • Buloh Kasap • Chaah • Desaru • Endau • Gelang Patah • Gemas Baharu • Genuang • Jemaluang • Jementah • Johor Lama • Kahang • Kampung Tengah • Kangkar Pulai • Kelapa Sawit • Kempas • Kluang • Kong Kong • Kota Tinggi • Kulai • Kukup • Labis • Layang-Layang • Lenga • Lima Kedai • Lok Heng • Lombong • Machap • Masai • Mengkibol • Mersing • Muar • Pagoh • Paloh • Parit Bakar • Parit Jawa • Parit Raja • Parit Sulong • Parit Yaani • Panchor • Pasir Gudang • Pasir Pelangi • Pendas • Pekan Air Panas • Pekan Nanas • Pengerang • Permas Jaya • Plentong • Pontian Kechil • Renggam • Rengit • Sagil • Saleng • Sedenak • Sedili • Seelong • Segamat • Semerah • Senai • Senggarang • Simpang Renggam • Skudai • Sri Gading • Sri Medan • Stulang • Sungai Balang • Sungai Mati • Sungai Rengit • Tampoi • Tangkak • Tanjung Balau • Tanjung Kupang • Tanjung Leman • Tanjung Langsat • Tanjung Pelepas • Tanjung Pengelih • Tebrau • Teluk Mahkota • Teluk Ramunia • Tenggaroh • Tongkang Pechah • Ulu Choh • Ulu Tiram • Yong Peng • Serom

Villages	FELDA Taib Andak • Kampung Melayu Majidee • Kampung Minyak Beku • Kampung Nong Chik • Kampung Tengah• Sungai Karas • Tanjung Piai • Serom 5

Islands	Middle Rocks • Pulau Aur • Pulau Besar • Pulau Kukup • Pulau Merambong • Pulau Pisang • Pulau Pemanggil • Pulau Tengah • Pulau Rawa • Pulau Sibu • Pulau Tinggi

Townships	Bandar Putra Kulai • Bandar Sri Alam • Bukit Indah • Mutiara Rini • Indahpura • Setia Indah • Setia Tropika • Taman Daya • Taman Johor Jaya • Taman Melodies • Taman Molek • Taman Perling • Taman Sentosa • Taman Ungku Tun Aminah • Taman Universiti • Taman Flora Utama • Taman Bukit Pasir • Pura Kencana • Taman Setia Jaya 2 •

Special Zones	Iskandar Malaysia • East Coast Economic Region