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{| cellpadding=3px cellspacing=0px bgcolor=#f7f8ff style="float:right; border:1px solid; margin:5px"
!style="background:#ccf; border-bottom:1px solid" colspan=2|Sentosa<br> 
!style="background:#ccf; border-bottom:1px solid" colspan=2|
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|align=right|Names:
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|align=right|[[English language|English]]:||Sentosa
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|align=right|[[Chinese language|Chinese]]:||&#22307;&#28120;&#27801;

|-
|align=right|<small>([[Pinyin]]:||<small>shèng táo sh&#257;)
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|align=right|[[Malay language|Malay]]:||Sentosa
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|align=right|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]:||''satasa''
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'''Sentosa''', which means ''tranquillity'' in [[Malay language|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 [[kilometre]]s in length on its southern coast, a ''[[musical fountain]]'' which uses the interaction of [[laser]]s against water particles to create [[dimension|three-dimensional]] images, and historical fortifications in [[Fort Siloso]], dating from [[World War II]]. There are also two [[golf]] courses and two [[5-star]] [[hotel]]s.

== History ==
 
This island was once a fishing village known as '''Pulau Blakang Mati''', which in [[Malay language|Malay]] means the "Island (''pulau'') of Death (''mati'') From Behind (''blakang'')". 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 [[Japan|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 [[peninsula|Peninsular]] [[Malaysia]]).

Following the surrender of the Allied Forces on [[February 15]], [[1942]], the island became a [[prisoner of war]] camp, housing Australian and British prisoners of the Japanese.

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 language|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]]. 

[[Image:Sentosa_map.jpg|thumb|600px|center|Sentosa Island Resort (Source:  Sentosa Development Corporation, Singapore)]]

== Transport ==

Sentosa can be reached via a short [[causeway]] or [[Cable Car]], which originates on [[Mount Faber]] and passes through [[HarbourFront, Singapore]] en route. Now, it is also accessible by a [[Singapore dollar|S$]]140 million [[Sentosa Express]] between Sentosa and the main island's train system. The Sentosa Express commenced operations on [[2007|15 January 2007]]. Now, visitors can easily transfer onto the Sentosa Express from VivoCity, which is in turn served by [[HarbourFront MRT Station]] on the [[North East MRT Line|North East Line]]. The journey takes four minutes. An uninterrupted chain of [[public transport]] will exist between Sentosa and some of the more remote [[list of neighbourhoods in Singapore|towns]] in Singapore.

Within Sentosa there are four bus services, identified as Blue, Yellow, and Red lines, and a tram service called the Beach Train. A shuttle bus also connects the mainland and Sentosa from the [[HarbourFront Bus Interchange]] to the Visitor Arrival Centre at [[Beach Station]]. Tickets for the shuttle are sold at HarbourFront Bus Interchange for [[Singapore dollar|S$]]3 per ticket.

Since 1998, passenger cars have been allowed to enter the island.

==Places of Interest==
===Attractions===
''Main article: [[Attractions in Sentosa]]''

Sentosa offers a variety of attractions and museums providing different experiences to visitors.

===Nature===
''Main article: [[Nature in Sentosa]]''

===Beaches===
''Main article: [[Beaches in Sentosa]]''

===Dine & Shop===
''Main article: [[Dining & Shopping in Sentosa]]''

== 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.

The largest impact is expected to be from a family-oriented Integrated Resort, with a casino at its core. This world-class Integrated Resort is expected to be completed in 2009. A resort operator/developer will be chosen by the end of 2005. Development of the resort will be financed privately and will not receive any government subsidies.

==External links==
* [http://www.sentosa.com.sg/ Sentosa] official website
* {{wikitravelpar|Singapore/Sentosa}}

{{Singapore}}

[[Category:Islands of Singapore]]
[[Category:Tourism sites in Singapore]]

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