Merlion Statue as a Symbol of Singapore
All about Singapore
Singapore is located at one of the crossroad of the world. Its strategic position has helped it grow into a major center for trade, communication, and tourism. The geographical location is 136.8 km north of equator, between latitudes 103 degrees to 104 degrees.
It is linked to Malaysia by two causeway bridges and the key islands of the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia are just a quick ferry trip away. Thailand and the Philippines are short plane journey away. Singapore with an airport served by more than 69 airlines, is very much the gateway to Southeast Asia.
From the historical backdrop, by the fourteenth century, Singapore had become part of the mighty Sri Vijayan Empire and was known as Temasek (sea town), which is located at the natural meeting point of sea routes of the trip of the Malay Peninsula and had long known visits from a wide variety of sea craft from Chinese, Indian, Arabian, and even Portuguese. During the fourteenth century also, this island had earned a new name “Singa-pura” (Lion City), according to the legends, a visiting Sri Vijayan Prince saw an animal and he mistook for a lion and after that Singapore’s modern day name was born.
By 1824, just five years after the founding of modern Singapore, the population had grown from a mere 150 to 10.000. In 1832, Singapore had become the center of government for the straits settlement of Penang, Malacca, and Singapore itself. In the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the advent of steamship and telegraph increased Singapore’s importance as the center for the expanding trade between east and west.
Five centuries later, Singapore became the scene of important fighting during World War II. It was regarded as an impregnable fortress. But unfortunately, in the 1942, the Japanese attacked the island. In 1959, the growth of nationalism led to self-government and eventually it became an independent republic on 9 August 1965.
