Destination Singapore, the small archipelago is situated about 140 km (87 mi) north of the equator and just south of the tip of the Malay Peninsula, separated by the Straits of Johor. Singapore lies on one of the world's busiest shipping lanes along the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea. The Strait of Singapore separates the country's islands from the Indonesian Riau Archipelago in the south. The former British colonial trading post gained independence in 1965.
Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is known as the Lion City (Singapura) and consists of the main island and about 64 smaller offshore islands, including Sentosa (the largest of the offshore islands), Pulau Ubin, St John's Island and the Sisters' Islands. Two bridges connect Singapore to Malaysia and Continental Asia. The Johor–Singapore Causeway links Singapore to the Malaysian city of Johor Baru on Peninsular Malaysia.
Singapore shares maritime borders with Malaysia and Indonesia.
The city-state occupies an area of 718 km², compared, it is the smallest state in Southeast Asia, approximately one-fourth of Luxembourg or somewhat larger than 3.5 times the size of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC.
Singapore has a population of about 5.7 million people (in 2020) and a resident population of 4 million (in 2020). Spoken languages are English (the language of administration and education), Singlish (the Singaporean creole), Malay, Chinese (Mandarin), and Tamil.
The original Merlion, Singapore's world-famous landmark, at Marina Bay, with the skyline of the Central Business District in the background. The statue was made by sculptor Lim Nang Seng.
What is Singapore famous for?
Singapore is famous for being a global financial center, being among the most densely populated places in the world, having a world-class city airport with a waterfall, and a Botanic Garden that is a World Heritage Site.
Singapore is known as a tourist destination and for its hot and humid climate, being very clean, and growing in area due to reclaimed land.
The city-state is a shopper's paradise, besides the usual luxury brands sold in luxurious malls with luxury air conditioning, you can buy almost everything except chewing gum. Singapore is also known as "Instant Asia" because it offers visitors a quick glimpse of the Asian cultures that immigrants have brought from all parts of the continent.