GEOGRAPHY
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
