Geography

Brunei is bounded to the north by the South China Sea. On all other sides lies Sarawak, a state of Malaysia. Sarawak divides Brunei into two separate parts. Brunei has an area of 2,226 square miles (5,765 square kilometers).

The narrow coastal regions of Brunei are made up of coral sand beaches. Lush rain forests cover most of the rest of the country. Brunei is very hilly. The country's highest point, Pagon Peak, is in the east. It reaches 6,070 feet (1,850 meters). The Belait, Tutong, and Brunei rivers are in Brunei's western section, and the Pandaruan and Temburong rivers are in the eastern section. The rivers flow into the South China Sea.

The climate in Brunei is hot and wet. Seasonal winds called monsoons bring heavy rain. The annual rainfall averages 110 inches (280 centimeters) in the coastal areas. Away from the coast it can rain more than 150 inches (380 centimeters) per year. Temperatures average between 76° and 86° F (24° and 30° C). It is very humid year-round.

Plants and animals

The rain forests are home to a great variety of plants and animals. Many kinds of hardwood trees cover the land. National parks preserve the dense forests. Brunei's wildlife includes lions, tigers, monkeys, birds, insects, snakes, and lizards.

People and culture

Brunei has a mixture of Southeast Asian ethnic groups. About two thirds of the population is Malay. Nearly one sixth is Chinese. Other native peoples and Indians make up most of the rest. The main language is Malay, but Chinese and English also are widely spoken. Muslims make up some two thirds of the population. Many of the Chinese are Buddhist, and some of the native peoples are Christian.

Most of the people live in Bandar Seri Begawan or near the oil fields along the coast. Bandar Seri Begawan has both a modern section and an older section known as Kampong Ayer. People in the older section live in small houses on stilts above a river.

Brunei has magnificent architecture. The best-known buildings are the Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque and the royal palace, both in the capital. The buildings are richly decorated. The sultan's home is the biggest palace in the world. Traditional Malay crafts include metal working and cloth weaving.

Economy

The country's economy depends almost entirely on its large reserves of petroleum and natural gas. The oil industry has made Brunei wealthy. The economy can be hurt by drops in world oil prices, however. Tourism has been increasing. Very little manufacturing exists, aside from industries related to petroleum. Farming is limited. Vegetables, fruits, and rice are grown for local use.

History

Little is known about Brunei's early history. By the 6th century it was trading with China. In the early 15th century Brunei became an independent sultanate, or kingdom. It soon became powerful. By the 16th century Brunei controlled almost the entire island of Borneo, as well as smaller islands in the area. Internal unrest and increasing European influence led to the kingdom's decline. In the 19th century Brunei became a British protectorate, or dependent state.

Petroleum was discovered in Brunei in 1929. In 1941, during World War II, Japanese forces invaded Brunei. Following the war, Britain regained control of the country. In 1959 Brunei became self-governing for most matters within the country. However, it was not yet fully independent from Britain.

Brunei's natural gas reserves were discovered in 1965. During the 1970s the sultan used some of the gas and oil profits to improve living conditions throughout the country. The people of Brunei pay no personal income taxes. Health care and primary education are free to all citizens.

In 1979 the sultan signed a treaty to end Britain's control over the country. Brunei became a fully independent state in 1984. Since independence the country has enjoyed mostly prosperity and peace. However, in the late 1990s a financial crisis affected much of Asia, including Brunei. The country's economy began to recover by 1999. Population (2001 estimate), 344,000.