Sentosa
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| Names | |
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| English: | Sentosa |
| Chinese: | 圣淘沙 |
| (Pinyin: | shèng táo shā) |
| Malay: | Sentosa |
| Tamil: | fill in |
Sentosa, which means tranquillity in Malay, is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some two million people a year. A major tourist attraction, it hosts a sheltered beach of more than two kilometres in length on its southern coast, a musical fountain which uses the interaction of lasers against water particles to create three-dimensional images, and historical fortifications in Fort Siloso, dating from World War II. There are also two golf courses and two 5-star hotels.
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History
This island was once a fishing village known as Pulau Belakang Mati, which in Malay means the "Island Where Death Lurks From Behind". During the Second World War, it was a British military fortress containing Fort Siloso. The British set up defending artillery guns in Fort Siloso which were then pointed to the south, facing the sea in expectation of a seaward Japanese assault. However, the Japanese eventually invaded and captured Singapore from the north, after having done the same to Malaya (now known as West or Peninsular Malaysia).
In 1967, the British, gave Sentosa to the newly independent government of Singapore. A year later, the government decided to develop the island into a holiday resort for local visitors and tourists. It was renamed “Sentosa”, which means tranquillity in Malay, from a suggestion by the public.
Geography
The island has an area of 5 square kilometres. It lies just half a kilometre (a quarter of a mile) away from the southern coast of the main island of Singapore. It is Singapore’s fourth largest island (excluding the main island). 70 % of the island is covered by secondary rainforest, the habitat of monitor lizards, monkeys, peacocks, parrots as well as other native fauna and flora. The island also has 3.2 kilometre stretch of white sand beach. Significantly large portions of land are currently being added to Sentosa due to land reclamation.
Sentosa can be reached via a short causeway or cable car, which originates on Mount Faber and passes through HarbourFront, Singapore en route. In the future, it will also be accessible by a SGD$140 million Sentosa Express between Sentosa and the main island's train system. When it becomes operational in 2006, visitors can easily transfer from the North East MRT Line at HarbourFront MRT Station onto the Sentosa Express, which will then bring tourists directly into the island in well under 4 minutes. When this is completed, an interrupted chain of public transport will exist between Sentosa and some of the more remote towns in Singapore.
Attractions
Sentosa offers a variety of attractions and museums providing different experiences to visitors.
- In the living museum of Butterfly Park, one can stroll through a landscape garden and experience the fluttering of over 1,5000 live butterflies, representing more than fifty species. Housed in a cool outdoor conservatory, these butterflies range from the 25 millimetre (1 in) Eurema sari to the 150 mm (6 in) Papilio iswara.
- The Insect Kingdom houses some 3,000 species of beautiful and rare insects from around the world, including a 160 mm size Dynastes Hercules beetle.
- Another living museum, the Underwater World oceanarium, contains 2,500 fishes of 250 different species, including starfish, stingrays, giant turtles, and baby sharks.
- The Dolphin Lagoon is home to some Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins where visitors can observe their skills and intelligence in the water.
- A Musical Fountain entertains visitors with dancing jets of water, laser, and song while introducing the history of Sentosa. The refractive and reflective effect of laser against water particles from several directions then create a three-dimensional image.
- In the west of the island stand the guns of preserved Fort Siloso which guarded the western approaches to Singapore during World War II. One can also explore a complex of ammunition bunkers, tunnels, and gun emplacements.
Recently, the Carlsberg Sky Tower was opened, and the Merlion was revamped with an all-new laser projection system.
Future development
Future plans for Sentosa aim to establish it as one of the world's most luxurious holiday locations, with a SGD$10 billion masterplan for the future involving the construction of private housing, the aforementioned partial redevelopment of Siloso Beach, and Asia's first tourism academy. This large scale island redevelopment projects are expected to complete in 2012.
External links
- Sentosa (http://www.sentosa.com.sg/) official website
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