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C H A P T E R

SINGAPORE’S GEOGRAPHY & LANDSCAPE

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S ingapore has beautiful geography that entices people around the globe. Perhaps due to its location and ideal weather conditions, it has become a hot spot for tourists and businesses alike. It has unique flora and fauna, and it has predictable seasons. Although the country is small, it makes the most of its space and is easy to travel through. Geography Around two-thirds of the main island of Singapore is less than 50 feet (15.25 meters) above sea level, which makes it prone to flash flooding from heavy rainstorms. The highest summit on the island is Timah Hill, which only extends 531 feet (161.82 meters) upward. While the terrain is sometimes rugged in the center of the island, the eastern section of the island is a low plateau with hills and valleys. Flooding can be severe in Singapore due to streams with low gradients and because of the runoff that travels from cleared lands. Mangroves and estuaries are common, particularly surrounding the streams that head northward. There has been significant degradation of the soils in eastern Singapore due to their infertile nature. Erosion has depleted them.

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