From Wikipedia & Malaysiana1.
Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo.
It is Sarawak’s second largest city and is the capital of the Miri Division.
Miri became a city on May 20, 2005.
Miri is the birthplace of Sarawak's and Malaysia’s petroleum industry, which remains the major industry of the city.
The first oil well was drilled by Shell on Canada Hill in 1910, and is now a state monument and one of Miri's tourist attractions.
An oil museum run by Malaysian national oil company Petronas has been set up next to the well.
Shell also built Malaysia's first oil refinery in Lutong, a suburb of Miri in 1914.
Miri has grown phenomenally since oil was first discovered and is today a major business and educational centre of Sarawak.
The city's other major industries include timber processing, oil palm production and tourism.
Miri is the gateway to the world famous Mount Mulu National Park in Marudi. It is the world’s largest cave.
Other eco-tourist destinations of Miri include the Loagan Bunut National Park (East Malaysia’s largest inland lake), Lambir National Park and Niah Caves National Park (oldest human habitation in Malaysia).
For divers, Miri is famous for its exotic coral reefs.
Miri's population consists of Chinese, Melanaus, Bruneians (Kedayans), Ibans, Bidayuhs, Kayans, Kenyahs, Kelabits and Muruts.
The main languages spoken in Miri are Bahasa Malaysia and English.
Miri has more than 14 green areas and its streets are lined with trees. The green areas include the Miri Waterfront, Miri Circular Park, Luak Bay Esplanade, Gourmet Garden, Miri Public Park, Miri City Fan (Malaysia’s Best Landscaped Park 2001) and Marina Park.
Miri’s major commercial centres are the Pelita and Boulevard Commercial Centres.
Its major shopping centres are Bintang Plaza, Boulevard Shopping Complex and Miri Plaza.
Hawker stalls and restaurants are prominent in Yu Seng Road and the Saberkas Commercial Centre.
Miri is also famous for its handicrafts, mostly sold in Brooke Road and Bendahara Road.
One of South-East Asia’s largest Buddhist temples, Lotus Hill Temple, is in Miri.
Miri also houses the first offshore campus of Australia’s Curtin University of Technology.
Miri gets its name from a sub-group of the Melanau community.
