Geographic location, climate and nature of Singapore
This state is located near the peninsulaMalacca and occupies its rocky granite part and about 60 small islets. The landscape of all islets is flat, and the highest point of it is Timah Hill (177 m). The average altitude above the sea level of the largest island of Singapore is 17 m. Wash this wonderful place of the Malacca and Singapore straits that connect the Andaman and South China seas. Singapore is separated from the peninsula of Malacca by the narrow Johor Strait. Almost all the islands that belong to this city-state are surrounded by coral reefs. In this beautiful city-state the humid tropical climate prevails. For the whole year, only 2500 mm of precipitation falls here, and there are no distinctions between dry and rainy seasons. The temperature drops throughout the year are insignificant. In January, the average temperature is 25 C, and in June 27 C. In winter, the north and north-east winds blow here, and in the summer - the south and south-east. In autumn and spring, powerful cyclones with winds, whose speed reaches 267 km / h, fall on Singapore. Long ago, all the islands belonging to Singapore were completely covered by tropical forests, on the marshy shores of the seas and short rivers there were impassable mangroves. Today, the forests are considerably thinner and occupy only 5% of the entire territory of the country, therefore they are taken under protection. On the islands of Tekong and Ubin, which could resist the onslaught of civilization, live wild pigs, which are the only large mammals. There are a lot of birds, reptiles and 350 species of butterflies in Singapore. 
History of the city-state of Singapore
In the beginning of our era, Singapore was a part ofMalaysian-Indonesian states. At the end of the 13th century it separated from the Sumatran kingdom of Srivijaya, by the middle of the fourteenth century it became dependent on Thailand, and in the middle of the 15th century it was in turn under the rule of the sultans of Johor and Malacca, gradually acquiring the importance of the seaport. In 1867, Singapore became one of the British colonies, and after the Suez Canal was opened in 1869, it became the main trade center and naval base of Great Britain in the Far East. During the Second World War, this place was occupied by the Japanese. In 1959, the state acquired the status of a "self-governing state" under the British Commonwealth of Nations. In the years 1962-1965. Singapore was part of the Malay Federation, and after it broke up, it was admitted to the UN as a sovereign state.
Population of Singapore
The majority of the population of Singapore are immigrantsfrom Malaya, China and their descendants. Basically, the whole island was flooded with settlers, who immigrated from China in the 19th century. Until 1980, there was a high natural increase in the population, but after the birth control began, it declined. Despite the fact that the population density is high, thanks to the prosperous economy of the state all are provided with work and the unemployment rate here is very small. Most people are employed in services and industry. Each ethnic community lives in its own neighborhood and therefore there are still significant differences in the construction of houses. 
Sights of Singapore
Singapore is a place where you canorganize an unforgettable vacation for every taste. A lot of impressions and excellent mood are guaranteed, because in Singapore there are many places that are worth visiting. The best time for walks is the morning time until 12:00 and after 16:00. Hot days are best spent in beautiful gardens, museums, shopping centers and on the beach. For city tours, a cloudy day is perfect. In order to see the main attractions of Singapore, it is better to go to the administrative center, which is located in the old colonial district. Here there are a variety of churches, sports clubs, hotels, modern skyscrapers and luxurious mansions. The most striking and distinctive area is the main attraction of this city - Chinatown. Restaurants located here offer a huge selection of Chinese cuisine. Island Sentosa, which is located south of the main island of Singapore, is perfect for those who prefer to relax in amusement parks. Here you can visit the aquarium with a glass tunnel, water park, museum of butterflies, a botanical garden and a marine museum. The central part of Singapore is a colonial center. It may take a very long time to visit this part of the city, because here there are a lot of attractions. The first thing that catches your eye is the Impress Place Building, which was built in Victorian style in 1865. Today there is a museum, art galleries and a restaurant. In addition to this building, you can see attractions such as the Concert Hall, the Victoria Theater, the Houses of Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Municipality. It is also recommended to visit local churches and cathedrals. It will be especially interesting to visit the oldest church in Singapore - the Church of St. Gregory the Saint, St. Andrew's Anglican Cathedral, the Catholic Cathedral of Good Shepherd and the Christian Cemetery Fort Canning Hill. Among the cultural attractions you can see the Stamford Road Museum, St. Joseph's Institute, the Brass Basa Road Museum and the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles. Lovers of expensive hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, bars, nightclubs are recommended to visit Orchad Road. In this area you can not only have fun, but also see the design solutions of modern architects. In the central part of Singapore, there are many historical and cultural sites. 
Ethnic quarters of the CulturalThe landmark of this state is the Chinatown, which houses all kinds of architectural monuments, temples, many markets and shops. To date, most of this quarter is under reconstruction, because in the middle of the 20th century everything was destroyed. However, there is still something to see. Here are attractions such as the Chinese temple of Tian keng, the temples of Siong Lim, Nagora Durga Shrin, Wak Hai Cheng Byo, the Al Abrar mosque and the Hindu temple of Sri Mariamman. The Muslim center of this city is Kampong Glam Street, located in the north-east of the city. This area is famous for its markets, where you can buy batik, silk, sarongs and carpets. In addition to the market, you can visit the Istana Kampong Glam Palace, the Jaamat and Masjid Sultan Mosques, as well as the Golden Mile Complex. In the northern part of Singapore there is an area called "Little India". This area is very modest, but it differs in special colors, its noisy markets, as well as restaurants where Indian national cuisine is prepared. Here you can see the temple of Viramakaliyaman, the Little India arcade, the "Thousand Lights" temple and the statue of a sitting Buddha, whose height is 15 meters. Merlion Park This park is a symbol and mascot of this city-state, because it contains a statue of Merlion - a sea creature with a head lion and body of fish. This statue is considered an integral part of the history of the city. There is even a whole legend of the appearance of this statue, which says that the idol appeared after the appearance of Prince Sri Tri Buan, who allegedly saw a strange creature off the coast of the island. And, having considered this a good sign, he founded a city on that place. The statue of this mythical creature about 9 m in height weighs almost 70 tons. This sculptor was created by Fraser Brunner in 1964. And in 1972 they opened the Merlion Park, which is located in Marina Bay. Ferris wheel The Ferris wheel in Singapore is considered the largest in the world. Its height is 165 mm. On the wheel there are 28 capsules, each of which has 28 seats. Local residents call this landmark a "wheel of fortune". This attraction is open until late evening, so you can even arrange a romantic dinner. In order not to stand in long queues for tickets to visit attractions, it is better to buy them through the Internet, having received a 10% discount for this. The adult ticket costs 30 Singapore dollars, and the children's ticket costs 20. The wheel runs from 8:30 to 22:00 local time. Fountain of Wealth and Theater in the Bay. Such a landmark of Singapore as the Fountain of Wealth, is the record holder in its size and even listed in the Guinness Book of Records. It is located in the commercial complex Suntec City. This complex consists of several large buildings that symbolize the fingers of the human hand, and the fountain itself is located in the center of this palm. It is believed that the water in the fountain is a source of luxury, abundance and good luck. Tourists who come to Singapore first visit this landmark to make a wish. It is believed that if 3 times clockwise around the lower fountain and touch the water with your hand, then all the wishes will come true. In the evenings, the Fountain of Wealth from the source of desires turns into an enchanting show with laser lights and music. It can be seen even from afar and to watch it better from the restaurant of the complex in which it is located. The incredible beauty of the building, which deserves the attention of the tourist - is the theater Esplanade. It is also called the architectural icon of Singapore. It is located on an area of 6 hectares and includes a theater, which has 2,000 seats. This place is considered one of the best concert halls in the world, which includes an audience for lectures, an exhibition gallery and an experimental theater studio. Singapore Zoo The Singapore Zoo is considered one of the best zoos in the world, as it has a fairly high level of comfort for both visitors and animals. The main feature of this place is that the animals here are in conditions as close as possible to the natural environment of their habitat. For all the time of the zoo's existence, there have never been instances when animals attacked a person. Safety here above all. Cells are replaced by deep moats with water or glass walls. Despite the fact that the territory of the zoo is very large, it is impossible to get lost here, since there are fairly clear signs everywhere. And even those who do not speak English will be able to figure out what's what. Especially interesting are the ecosystems that were recreated in the zoo. For example, traveling on the zoo, you can get into the jungle or desert from the Ethiopian valley. Here, for the first time in the world, polar bears were bred in the tropics. The Singaporeans themselves are very fond of walking in this place, spending the whole day here. Many local residents celebrate jubilees and weddings, or hold romantic meetings. These services are provided by the local administration. Very convenient is the zoo for visitors. In order to understand how you can begin your walk, you can ride a "tram" from which you can look around. If the weather deteriorates and it rains, it's not scary, because there are many canopies beneath which you can wait out the weather. If the heat in the street, then you can hide in a special room with air conditioning, in which you will be offered for a fee cool drinks. The pricing policy here is this: an adult ticket to the zoo costs from 22 to 89 Singapore dollars, and a child ticket - from 14 to 58. Prices fluctuate depending on the saturation of the program. Going to the zoo, it is advisable to have extra money with you in case you have a desire to ride a boat or an electric train, take part in shows with animals or buy souvenirs. Throughout the territory of the zoo there is a huge number of all kinds of entertaining show programs, in which animals participate. Those who want to feed the inhabitants of the zoo, can do it, observing the schedule of food intake of animals. Also you can visit the special program "night safari", in the park of butterflies and the bird park "jurong". Unfortunately, it's impossible to tell about all the sights of Singapore in one article, as there are a lot of them. In addition to everything described above, you can visit places like Sentosa and Pulau, Botanical Garden, Orchid Garden, Singapore River and much more. Once in this place once, you will love it and will come here again and again.
