Singapore consists of the main, low-lying Singapore Island and 63 smaller islands within its territorial waters. Its intricate cultural basket is woven with the fibers of traditional Chinese, Malay and Hindu cultures that have established themselves on this tiny island. The name Singapore is derived from the Sanskrit term Singa Pura which means a Lion City. This island nation offers visitors a tantalizing range of attractions from cultural, natural, and culinary delights. The Island often referred as City of diverse cultures, The Garden City, The Fun City, City for the Arts and the Gateway City. The main city area is in the south, built on the shores of the Singapore River.

The Merlion

The Merlion was designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 1964. The designer was Mr Fraser Brunner, a member of the souvenir committee and a curator of the Van Kleef Aquarium. The Merlion has a lion head and a fish body resting on a crest of waves. The lion head symbolizes the legend of the rediscovery of Singapura, as recorded in the "Malay Annals". In ancient times, Singapore was known as Temasek, a Japanese word for sea. In the 11th century A.D, Prince Sang Nila Utama of the Sri Vijaya Empire rediscovered the island. When the Prince first landed on Singapore's shores, he sighted a mystical beast which he later learnt was a lion. The Prince then decided to name the island "Singapura" which in Sanskrit means Lion (Singa) City (Pura). The fish tail of the Merlion symbolizes the ancient city of Temasek and represents Singapore's humble beginnings as a fishing village.

There are five official Merlions statues in Singapore. Two of them are located at Merlion Park, adjacent to the promenade of One Fullerton. A third Merlion is 37 meters high and is found on Sentosa island. The fourth Merlion is located at the headquarters of the Singapore Tourism Board at 1 Orchard Spring Lane. The fifth Merlion is located at Mount Faber.

Important Facts

• Singapore consists only of one main island and 63 other tiny islands. Most of these islands are uninhabited.

• Singapore is among the 20 smallest countries in the world, with a total land area of only 682.7 square kilometers. The USA is about 15,000 times bigger.

• The flying fox, the world's largest bat with a wingspan of up to 1.5 meters, can be found on Pulau Ubin, one of the islands off mainland Singapore.

• Singapore is a stopover point for thousands of migratory birds travelling the East Asian Flyway.

• The world's first night zoo, The Night Safari, is located in Singapore.

• Buildings in Singapore cannot be higher than 280 meters. There are presently three buildings of that height: OUB Centre, UOB Plaza and Republic Plaza.

• The world's highest man-made waterfall, standing at 30 meters, is located at the Jurong BirdPark.

• More Singaporeans are born in the month of October than any other month of the year.

• Singapore has more than 3,000 kilometers of roads. Stretched end to end, they can cover the distance from Singapore to Hong Kong.

• The Singapore Sling was first served in 1915 at the Long Bar of the Raffles Hotel. The ingredients are gin, Cointreau, cherry brandy, Dom Benedictine, pineapple juice, Grenadine, Angostura bitters and limes.