Singapore became a British colony in 1819 and once served as an important trading post on the spice route. Occupied by Japanese forces during the Second World War, it was back under British Rule after Japan’s defeat. In 1963, when the British left, Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation only to split away from it two years later. Singapore became a sovereign nation in August 1965.
The local culture is a vibrant mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences. Each culture brought with it something unique to the country, evolving over the years to merge and create a unique Singaporean identity.
Singapore is situated in Southeast Asia, on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. A large part of Singapore lies within 15 meters of sea level. It comprises of 63 islands and has a continuous land reclamation program. Geographically, the hilly terrain of the northwest is made up of sedimentary rocks; the mountainous central region is formed by igneous rock and granite, while the east is a stretch of sandy lowland. Singapore has no natural fresh water source; reservoirs and catchments have been constructed to store rainwater. The island nation neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia.