Where Is Singapore Located?

Singapore, also known as the Republic of Singapore, is an island city-state located at the southern tip of the Malayan Peninsula between Malaysia and Indonesia. It has a total land area of almost seven hundred square kilometers, and one hundred and ninety-three kilometers of coastline.

Comparing Singapore to the United States, the country is about three times the size of Washington, D.C.

The Singapore Strait separates the country from Indonesia. The Straits of Johor separates the country from Malaysia. The main land of Singapore is the diamond shaped island. However, technically, Singapore also includes some of the islands that surround this diamond shaped island.

The largest islands that surround the main island are Jurong Island, Sentosa, Pulau Tekong, and Pulua Ubin. The highest point in the country is Bukit Timah. The height of Bukit Timah is approximately one hundred and sixty four meters high. There are actually no natural lakes throughout the country, but there are numerous reservoirs.

Climate

Singapore is extremely close to the equator, and thus its climate reflects that. In fact, Singapore is only one degree north of the equator. Thus, its climate is technically considered equatorial, and it does not have distinct seasons.

The average rainfall is approximately one hundred inches, and the average temperature for the country is approximately seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. The hottest month in the Singapore climate is June, and the second hottest month in the Singapore climate is May. Singapore has frequent afternoon thunderstorms throughout the year due to its proximity to the equator and its climate.

Economy

The economy of Singapore is market-based, and Singapore is considered one of the “Four Asian Tigers” (along with Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan). The Four Asian Tigers refers to newly industrialized countries that quickly developed advanced economies, and are currently the world’s fastest growing industrialized countries.

The country has the fourth largest foreign exchange trading rate. It is behind only London, New York, and Tokyo. The majority of the economy is focused on exports and refining imported manufactured goods. These industries composed almost thirty percent of the country’s GDP in 2005.

Some of the other important industries in Singapore include electronics, petroleum refining, chemicals, mechanical engineering, and biomedical sciences. The country employs a significant amount of foreign workers.

Tourism

The country is a popular tourist destination. It’s known for its cosmopolitan atmosphere and beautiful scenery. English is the primary language, although Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil are also spoken throughout the country. In 2007, there were more than ten million visitor arrivals in the country. In an attempt to increase tourism even more, the government legalized gambling in the country and allowed two casino resorts to be built. Another major tourist attraction is the Singapore Food Festival, which is held every July. The Food Festival specifically celebrates the cuisine of Singapore, rather than any other food from around the world.