Singapore -- School-age

Singapore

Official Name: Republic of Singapore

Government Type: Parliamentary Republic

Capital: Singapore is a city-state.
The Lion City (There are no lions)

County's inhabitants: Singaporean(s)

Abbreviation: SG

Official Languages: There are 4 official languages in Singapore: English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil.
English is the most widely spoken language. It is the language of business and government in Singapore,

Population: Chinese 76.7%, Malay 14%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4%.

The country of Singapore is located in Southeastern Asia and are islands between Malaysia and Indonesia. It lays south of the mainland part of Malaysia.

Singapore consists of 63 islands. The main island is one 30-mile-long island called Pulau Ujong, or mainland Singapore. It is surrounded by 62 smaller islands.

Singapore has a total land area of 709.2 sq km. It is slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC.

History

Traders from India and China passed through Singapore. For years Southeast Asian empires would control the island of Singapore. Singapore became a British trading colony in 1819 and came under British rule in 1826.

Sir Stamford Raffles was an agent of the East India Company he purchased the Singapore island for the East India Company from the Sultan of Johor in the 1800's.

In 1942 during World War II, the Japanese took control Singapore. After the war the Japanese would hand back control of Singapore to the British. In 1959, Singapore had its own government although the British were still controlled the military in the country. In 1963 Singapore joined Malaysia. Two years later Singapore separated from Malaysia and gain full independence in 1965

History of Singapore Video

Government

Singapore has a parliamentary system.

The executive branch is composed of the President, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet. The President is the head of state, but the post is largely ceremonial. The real leader of the government is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and Cabinet is selected by the President.

The legislative branch of government is a single-chambered parliament. Parliament creates laws and makes amendments to certain provision of the Constitution. It also supervises the Cabinet.

The Judicial branch of government administers justice. The Supreme Court of Singapore is the highest judicial office.

Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore

Lee Kuan Yew was the first Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. He is regarded as the founding father of modern Singapore.

Under the rule of Mr. Lee, Singapore went from one of the poorest countries to one of the riches countries in Southeast Asia.

Singapore has little land and few natural resources. After independence in 1965 under Mr. Lee's rule would mould Singapore and make it what it is today - a prosperous city-state. He forged a corruption-free and driven government, advanced infrastructure, and highly skilled workers. With an economy that is a highly-developed free-market economy. Mr. Lee would encourage free trade and international investment.

Singapore's development under the rule of Mr. Lee is called the “Singapore model” of economic growth and tight social control. Many question his style of leadership and describe it as autocratic and dictatorial,

Lee Kuan Yew Video

Flag of Singapore

The flag of Singapore was adopted in 1959. The Singapore flag is composed of two horizontal stripes, red above white. The red and white strips represent universal brotherhood and equality and for purity and virtue. In the upper hoist corner (left side of the upper red stripe) are the symbols of a white crescent and five five-pointed stars forming a ring. In the flag of Singapore the crescent and the star are not officially associated with Islam. The crescent is a symbol of a young country on the rise. The five stars representing democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality.

Climate and Land

Singapore is located just north of the equator. It is a tropical climate and is hot and humid throughout the year. It rain almost every day and there is little seasonal variation in its temperature.

Singapore is mainly a low-lying flat island. Its highest point is Bukit Timah Hill at 163.63 meters (537 ft.) above ground level, at the central part of the main island.

Bukit Timah Hill
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

At one time rainforest covered almost all of the island of Singapore. The deforestation and urban growth 95 percent for the rainforest have been cut down. In the last 200 years, Singapore has lost about half its animal species and 5% of its amphibians and reptiles.

Over half of the naturally occurring plants and animals in Singapore are in nature reserves. Singapore has created plans to preserve the country's wildlife.

Plants

The Vanda Miss Joaquim Orchid is the National Flower of Singapore.

History of the Mangroves of Singapore

Animals

The wildlife of Singapore is diverse due to the various nature reserves.

Singapore is home to only one wild cat species, the leopard cat is a small spotted wild cat.

Other mammals: Pale Giant Squirrel, Banded Leaf Monkey, Common Tree shrew , the and Flying Lemur , Pangolin or Scaly Anteater

Leopard Cat Singapore Zoo

of Singapore Provides images and information on butterflys in Singapore. Reptiles are numerous, and there are over in Singapore , including colorful parrots.

Singapore Is Famous For

Singapore is the largest port in Southeast Asia and is one of the busiest container port in the world.

Singapore is famous for its economy - going from a poor country to a rich country.

Singapore Port Video

Singapore Products

Singapore is an island nation with a free market economy that is highly developed. Banking is important to the economy. Singapore is considered a global financial center due to financial services offered by their banks and other financial institutions.

Singapore produces and exports chemicals, electronics, machinery, petroleum (oil) products, and other goods.

Singapore imports most food items as there is limited land and water problems.