Difference between revisions of "Sentosa"

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'''Sentosa''', which translates to ''peace and tranquility'' in Malay (derived from ''Santosha'' in Sanskrit), is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two star hotels, and the [[Resorts World Sentosa]], featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.
!style="background:#ccf; border-bottom:1px solid" colspan=2|Names
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|align=right|[[English language|English]]:||Sentosa
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|align=right|[[Chinese language|Chinese]]:||圣淘沙


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Sentosa was once known as '''''Pulau Blakang Mati''''' which in Malay means the "Island (''pulau'') of Death (''mati'') from behind (''blakang'')".
|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''
|}


== See also ==
* [[Resorts World Sentosa]]


'''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.
== External links ==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentosa Wikipedia Article]


== History ==
[[Category:Places in Singapore]]
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]].
 
Sentosa can be reached via a short [[causeway]] or [[Gondola lift|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 [[list of neighbourhoods in Singapore|towns]] in Singapore.
 
[[Image:Sentosa_map.jpg|thumb|600px|center|Sentosa Island Resort (Source:  Sentosa Development Corporation, Singapore)]]
 
== Attractions ==
[[Image:Sentosa Singapore Cable cars.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Cable cars to Sentosa.]]
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 [[Hercules beetle|Dynastes Hercules beetle]].
* Another living museum, the '''Underwater World oceanarium''', contains 2,500 fishes of 250 different species, including [[starfish]], [[stingray]]s, [[Giant Asian Pond Turtle|giant turtle]]s, and baby [[shark]]s. 
* 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]] [[bunker]]s, tunnels, and gun emplacements.
 
Recently, the [[Carlsberg Sky Tower]] was opened, and the '''[[Merlion]]''' was revamped with an all-new laser projection system.
 
There is also a new attraction called '''Sentosa Luge'''.
 
== 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]]
 
[[de:Sentosa]]
[[id:Pulau Sentosa]]
[[nl:Sentosa (eiland)]]
[[zh:圣淘沙]]

Latest revision as of 21:14, 18 October 2018

Sentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay (derived from Santosha in Sanskrit), is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year. Attractions include a two-kilometre long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso, two golf courses and two star hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.

Sentosa was once known as Pulau Blakang Mati which in Malay means the "Island (pulau) of Death (mati) from behind (blakang)".

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

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