LANGKAWI: Almost every year over these past few years, a wide sand strip that stretches from the Tanjung Rhu beach here to Pulau Chabang and Pulau Kelam Baya will make an appearance, drawing the interest not only among locals but also foreign tourists on the island.
This year was no exception as the phenomenon, which looked as if the sea was being parted into two, made its appearance for more than an hour at 6.45am today, attracting the attention and curiosity of some 3,000 tourists here.
This phenomenon will usually appear during the yearly low-tide season when the sea level at the Tanjung Rhu beach drops to a maximum of 0.0 metre.
It is learned that the same phenomenon will likely make its appearance once again at 7.30am tomorrow.
Marlisa Mohamad, 31, from Kuala Lumpur, said she and her family arrived early in the area to witness the phenomenon themselves for a memorable experience.
"'This area is usually inaccessible because of the deep water when the tide is high. However, this phenomenon has allowed us to explore further the beauty of the area and the beach as we were able to walk as far as 600 meters from the beach to Pulau Chabang and Pulau Kelam Baya.
"At the same time, this phenomenon allows us to see closer marine species such as seahorses and live jellyfish stranded on the sand," she said.
Joining the crowd to witness the phenomenon were Langkawi Development Authority (Lada) chief executive officer Datuk Haslina Abdul Hamid and Langkawi district officer, Mohamad Subhi Abdullah.
Haslina said the uniqueness of the phenomenon has been promoted as a tourism product in Langkawi for the past four years.
"We are estimating 3,000 visitors, consisting of locals and tourists, arrived here as early as 6.30am t to witness the complete low tide phenomenon and walk on the sand strip for up to 600 meters.
"This phenomenon is said to have occurred more than 19 years ago. However, Lada took the initiative to collaborate with a nearby hotel and promote it as a tourism product four years ago," she said.