Sungai Mati, JohorSungai Mati, Johor (11 September, 2016)


Sungai Mati (GPS: 2.14545, 102.56256) is a small town in northwestern Johor. Until 2008, it was part of Muar District, but has since been placed within the newly created Ledang District.

The name Sungai Mati literally means "dead river". It refers to an ox-bow lake in the area, which in Malay is called "sungai mati". This ox-bow lake was created when Muar River burst its banks during the early 20th century. When the water receded, Muar River had changed its course, leaving a circular lake cut off from the river (see Google Map below). The land surrounded by the ox-bow lake became known as Pulau Penarik.

The pekan or town centre of Sungai Mati is in a triangle bounded by Jalan Muar-Tangkak (Route 23).

To the Chinese, the place is called Li Hong Kang, meaning "prosperous port". It is a name that goes back to the time before the creation of the ox-bow lake, when the place had a thriving port. Remnants of the port and its warehouses were still around as recently as the 1970's.

Map of Sungai Mati, Johor

Sights in Sungai Mati, Johor

  1. Masjid Sungai Mati (GPS: 2.14543, 102.56152)
  2. Pulau Penarik (GPS: 2.14425, 102.56512)

Sungai Mati, JohorThe triangular heart of Sungai Mati's pekan (11 September, 2016)


Sungai Mati, JohorSungai Mati, Johor (11 September, 2016)


Sungai Mati, JohorJunction to Pulau Penarik (11 September, 2016)


Sungai Mati, JohorNew shophouses within the triangular town centre of Sungai Mati (11 September, 2016)


Masjid Jamek Sungai MatiMasjid Jamek Sungai Mati (11 September, 2016)


Masjid Jamek Sungai MatiMasjid Jamek Sungai Mati (11 September, 2016)


Masjid Jamek Sungai MatiMasjid Jamek Sungai Mati (11 September, 2016)


Sungai Mati, JohorA beautiful Malay house in Sungai Mati (11 September, 2016)


Pulau Penarik, JohorPulau Penarik, the island created by the ox-bow lake of Sungai Mati (11 September, 2016)


Pulau Penarik, JohorMy wife and I taking a memento shot at Pulau Penarik (11 September, 2016)


Sungai Mati, JohorBack to Sungai Mati from Pulau Penarik (11 September, 2016)

Sungai Mati is on the Map of Johor

Location Map of Sungai Mati and Pulau Penarik

On this satellite view, we see Sungai Mati, the ox-bow lake, and Pulau Penarik, the island that was created by the river.

Back to Johor mainpage; List of Towns in Johor and Towns in Malaysia

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

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