Singapore is the smallest country in the Southeast Asia, located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is linked to Malaysia by two causeway bridges (south of the Malaysian state of Johor) and the key islands of the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia on the north are a ferry trip away. Very little is known about Singapore prior to the 14th century. By the 14th century, Singapore became part of the mighty Sri Vijayan Empire and was known as Temasek "Sea Town". Singapore was a Malay fishing village when it was colonized by the United Kingdom in 19th century. It was later occupied by the Japanese during II world war and later merged with Malaysia. Later Singapore became an independent county on 9th August 1965.
The name Singapore is derived from the Malay words Singa (lion) and Pura (city), which was originally derived from the Sanskrit words simha and pura. Singapore is a diamond-shaped island with surrounding smaller islands. Singapore has a highly developed market based economy and is often considered to be a developed nation. Its economy depends heavily on exports produced from refining imported goods in a form of extended entrepot trade, especially in manufacturing.
The merlion was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourism Promotion Board in 1964. The lion head with a fish body resting on a crest of waves became Singapore's icon to the rest of the World. The Merlion was designed by Mr. Fraser Burnner. There are five Merlion statues in Singapore. Today Merlion attracts more than one million tourists to Merlion Park for a photo stop.
