Short facts about the geography of Singapore

Location:

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total:  647.5 sq km land:  637.5 sq km water:  10 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

193 km

Maritime claims:

exclusive fishing zone:  within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice territorial sea:  3 NM

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon from June to September; inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms

Terrain:

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

Elevation extremes:

lowest point:  Singapore Strait 0 m highest point:  Bukit Timah 166 m

Natural resources:

fish, deepwater ports

Land use:

arable land:  2% permanent crops:  6% permanent pastures:  0% forests and woodland:  5% other:  87% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements:

party to:  Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified:  none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

Source: World Factbook