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Sentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay, 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 five-star hotels, and the Resorts World Sentosa,
featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore.
The island has an area of 5 square kilometres. It lies just half a kilometre 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.
Formerly known by the rather unattractive name of Pulau Blakang Mati ("The Island After
Death" in Malay) and the centerpiece of Britain's spectacularly unsuccessful "Fortress Singapore"
strategy in World War II, Sentosa has been rebranded and resculpted into one big tourist
attraction, popular among Singaporeans as a quick island getaway. The new jewel in the
crown is Resorts World Sentosa, an enormous complex comprising of Universal Studios themepark,
S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore's first casino, shopping malls and hotels.
The small southern islets of Kusu Island, St. John's Island, the Sisters Islands and
Pulau Hantu are a little to the southeast of Sentosa. Various plans to develop them
have not come to much and they remain off the beaten track, but by no means undiscovered.
The first two can be reached by public ferry, and the rest by chartered boat.