Sarawak is located north of the Equator between latitude 0° 50° and 5°N and longitude 109° 36' and 115° 40' E, and stretches approximately 800km along north-west coast of the island of Borneo.   Sarawak is popularly known as the Land of the Hornbills, which is the national bird of the State.  It was once ruled by the infamous Rajah Brooke administration in the late 19th century to early 20th century.  It gained independence through Malaysia on 16 September 1963 together with Sabah.  Sarawak is by far the largest State in Malaysia, occupying a land mass of 124,449 square kilometres or 37.7 percent of the total area of Malaysia.  It has a population of about 2.0 million in 1999.   Sarawak is popular for its natural caves, and rich floras and faunas.