Singapore (island)

Singapore is the primary island of the Republic of Singapore. This nation is a sovereign city-state. The island serves as the main part of the country. Most of the population and land area are located here. Other smaller islands exist within the country. These smaller islands are often used for military or industrial purposes. However, some islands like Sentosa and Ubin are different. Singapore sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is positioned between the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. To the south lies the Singapore Strait. To the north lies the Johor Strait.

The geography of the island varies across different regions. In the northwest, the landscape features hills and valleys. These areas are composed of sedimentary rock. The eastern region is quite different from the northwest. It consists of flatter land made of sand. The highest point on the island is Bukit Timah Hill. This hill is made of granite and igneous rock. Igneous rock forms from cooled magma or lava. The island has a coastline that stretches for many kilometers. It measures roughly the same distance from east to west as it does from north to south.

Humans have actively changed the shape of the island over time. This process is known as land reclamation. Land reclamation is the act of creating new land from the sea. The British began this work in 1822. At that time, they controlled the island as a colony. Since gaining independence, the government of Singapore has continued this work. They have used reclamation to increase the size of the main island. In the 1960s, the island was much smaller than it is today. The government expects to add even more land in the future.

Many different names have described this island throughout history. An early recorded name for a settlement there was Temasek. A 3rd-century Chinese reference used the name Pú Luó Zhōng. This likely corresponds to the Malay name Pulau Ujong. In Malay, Pulau Ujong means "Island at the End." This name makes sense for travelers and merchants. They had to pass the island to travel between the Singapore Strait and the South China Sea. The Orang Laut tribes also used this name. European sources sometimes called it Ujong Tanah, meaning "Land at the Furthest."

There is also a name called Pedra Draku. This is a Kristang name that means "Rock of Dragons." This name relates to the Dragon's Tail Peninsula found on older maps. This peninsula was part of a former sub-continent called Sundaland. Singapore sits on top of this former sub-continent. The name Pedra Draku may also link to the Dragon's Teeth Gate. This was a feature found at the front of Keppel Harbour. The name Pulau Ujong also connects to this idea of being at the end of the peninsula.

Singapore is home to a very large population. As of the mid-2020s, over six million people live there. Most of these people live on the main island. The island has several extreme geographic points. Sembawang is the northernmost point of the island. Changi Bay marks the easternmost point. The westernmost and southernmost points are both located at Tuas. These points help define the boundaries of the island.

The history of the island includes various legends and myths. A mythical book from the Eastern Wu Period is called the Record of Foreign Countries. This book claims the island was once inhabited by cannibals. It says these people had tails measuring five to six inches long. Many people view these claims with skepticism. These stories may have been used to imply certain racial connotations. Regardless of these legends, the island remains a vital part of the region. Its location and its growing land make it a very significant place.