The Republic of Singapore is an island nation of Southeast Asia. The country consists of a main island and about 60 small islands in the Indian Ocean. The capital is the city of Singapore, which occupies the southern part of the main island. The city of Singapore dominates the island so much that the republic is usually called a city-state. Since the Republic of Singapore declared independence in 1965, it has worked hard to create and maintain a strong economy. In fact, the country is one of the wealthiest in the world. In addition, Singapore has one of the busiest ports in the world. It is located off the Strait of Malacca, an important link between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. GeographySingapore lies just off the southern tip of the mainland portion of the country of Malaysia. Singapore and Malaysia are separated by a narrow body of water called the Johore Strait. However, a raised road and railway link the two countries. The islands of Indonesia lie across the water to the west and south of Singapore. The country's total land area is about 264 square miles (683 square kilometers), including all its small islands. Singapore's land is mostly flat and low-lying with several small hills. The highest point, Timah Hill, is only 531 feet (162 meters) above sea level. A network of streams runs through the main island. Singapore is very near the equator. Its climate is tropical, meaning the weather is hot, humid, and often rainy. Seasonal winds bring heavier rain from November through March. Flooding is common in the low-lying areas during periods of heavy rainfall. Plants and animalsThe land in Singapore was originally covered with tropical rain forests, with swamps of mangrove trees along the coasts. However, as people have built up the island, much of the original plant life has disappeared. Some rain forests have been preserved in the center of the main island, and there are still some mangrove swamps. Shrubs and grasses are now common. In addition, the government of Singapore has created numerous gardens and parks. The animals found in the forests of Singapore include the long-tailed macaque (an Asian species of monkey) and the slow loris (a large-eyed, tailless primate). Squirrels, shrews, and other small mammals also live in the forests. There are many birds, including the barn swallow. Reptiles, such as cobras and lizards, are also common. People and cultureSingapore is composed of people of several different cultures, religions, and language groups. The three main ethnic groups in Singapore are Chinese, Malay, and Indian. The Chinese are the biggest group at about three fourths of the population. The various ethnic groups tend to practice different religions. Most of the Chinese in Singapore are Buddhist, Taoist or Christian. Most of the Indians practice Hinduism. The Malays and some of the Indians follow Islam. Because of this ethnic diversity, the country has four official languages: Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin), and Tamil (a language of India). English is the primary language of schools, businesses, and the government. Malay and English are widely used for communication among the different ethnic groups. EconomySingapore has one of the most advanced economies in Asia. Financial services and manufacturing are major sources of income for the country. The manufactured products include electronics, chemicals, machinery, and transportation equipment. Singapore's major exports (products that are sold and sent to other countries) include electronics, machinery, petroleum products, office machines, and telecommunications equipment. By the end of the 20th century tourism had become increasingly important to the economy. Because there is little space on the main island for farming, it does not play a major role in Singapore's economy. As a result, Singapore does not produce as much food as it needs. However, the strength of Singapore's economy allows it to buy the food and other goods it needs from other countries. HistoryIn early records, Singapore is called Temasek, which means “Sea Town.” The island was long inhabited by fishermen and pirates. According to Malay tradition, in 1299 a prince named the main island Singapura, meaning “Lion City,” because he thought he saw a lion on the island. The name later came to be Singapore. Trade empiresSingapore lies along an important sea route from India to China. For many years, a series of empires from Southeast Asia occupied Singapore in order to control the trade along this route. European empires then seized control of Singapore. The Portuguese ruled the island in the 16th century, followed by the Dutch in the 17th century. British influenceIn 1819 Thomas Stamford Raffles established a trading station on Singapore for the British East India Company, which was involved with the spice and tea trade. Singapore soon became the center of British colonial activity in Southeast Asia. In 1826 the British merged Singapore with the ports of Penang and Malacca (now both part of Malaysia) to form the Straits Settlements. In 1867 these settlements became a British colony. Singapore's port grew busier and more profitable during the 19th century as steamships came into use. Western nations were building up their industries at the beginning of the 20th century. The demand for tin and rubber from Southeast Asia grew. As a result, Singapore became one of the greatest ports in the world. During this time, immigrants from China, India, and Britain arrived in Singapore hoping to become wealthy. During World War II, Singapore was controlled by Japan. The British returned to Singapore in 1945, and in 1946 the Straits Settlements were split apart. Singapore then became a separate British colony. IndependenceThe people of Singapore soon began to demand greater power in the government. In 1959 Singapore became largely self-governing. Singapore joined the Federation of Malaysia when it formed in 1963. However, the Singapore and Malaysian governments had different political and economic views. In 1965 Singapore separated from Malaysia and became completely independent. It was renamed the Republic of Singapore. Singapore's first prime minister was Lee Kuan Yew, who led the country from 1959 to 1990. Since its independence, Singapore's government and people have worked hard to create a strong nation and economy. Population (2001 estimate), 3,322,000. |