Saint John's Island

This article is about an island of Singapore. For other places, see St. John's Island.

St John's Island
Pulau Sekijang Bendera
Island of Singapore
Flag of St John's Island
Flag
Map
Location of St John's Island
Coordinates: 1°13′08″N 103°50′53″E / 1.21889°N 103.84806°E / 1.21889; 103.84806
Country Singapore
British settlement founded in Singapore1819
Singapore islands ceded to British1824
Singapore sovereign over St John's Island1959
Government
 • BodyGovernment of Singapore
Area
 • Total0.41 km2 (0.16 sq mi)

Saint John's Island (Chinese: 圣约翰岛; pinyin: Shèngyuēhàndǎo Malay: Pulau Sekijang Bendera) also known as St John's is an island in the Straits of Singapore located 6.5 km off the southern coast of Singapore.[1][2][3] With an area of 0.41 km2 (0.16 sq mi), it is the largest of the Marine Park islands which also include the Sisters' Islands and Pulau Tekukor.[1][4] St John's was colonised by the British along with mainland Singapore in the 19th century and was the site of a colonial quarantine centre.[5] In the 20th century, the island served as a detention centre, drug rehabilitation centre and refugee settlement. Singapore gained independence under the Government of Singapore in the mid-20th century and maintained sovereignty over St John's. In the present day, the island has doubled as grounds for recreational facilities and aquaculture research and development facilities.

The island is part of the Jurong Rock Formation and contains both tropical rainforest and coastal habitats, and is one of the wetlands of Singapore.[6][7] It is populated by several nationally critically endangered species of plants and animals. Currently, the island has no permanent inhabitants.

  1. ^ a b Hung, Sherry M. X.; Chong, K. Y.; Yee, Alex T. K.; Lim, Reuben C. J.; Loh, Jolyn W.; Neo, Louise; Seah, W. W.; Tan, S. Y.; Tan, Hugh T. W. (29 May 2017). "The vascular plant flora and vegetation of the islands associated with Singapore's first Marine Park (III): St. John's Island". Nature in Singapore (10). National University of Singapore: 37.
  2. ^ "History of St John's". The Straits Times. 25 February 1999. p. 29.
  3. ^ Koh, Tommy; Auger, Timothy; Ng, Wei Chian; Yap, Jimmy, eds. (11 September 2006). "Pulau Sekijang Bendera". Singapore: The Encyclopedia. Singapore: Editions Didier Millet. p. 432. ISBN 9814155632.
  4. ^ Chua, Grace (12 July 2014). "Singapore to develop first marine park". The Straits Times. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  5. ^ Firbank, L. T. (1 January 1966). "Early Singapore". Straits Times Annual.
  6. ^ "Learn More About Singapore's Wetlands". National Parks. 2018.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).