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Singapore River

January 01, 1970

The Singapore River is a river that flows parallel to Alexandra Road and feeds into the Marina Reservoir in the southern part of Singapore. The immediate upper watershed of the Singapore River is known as the Singapore River Planning Area, although the western part of the watershed is classified under the River Valley planning area.

Singapore River
Singapore River flowing through Singapore's central business district.
Early 19th century map of the Singapore River basin.
Native name
  • Sungai Singapura (Malay)
  • 新加坡河 (Chinese)
  • சிங்கப்பூர் நதி (Tamil)
Location
Country Singapore
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationAlexandra Canal
Mouth 
 • location
Marina Channel
Length3.2 km (2.0 mi)
Singapore River
Planning Area
Other transcription(s)
 • Chinese新加坡河
Xīnjiāpō hé (Pinyin)
Sin-ka-pho hô (Hokkien POJ)
 • MalaySungai Singapura (Rumi)
سوڠاي سيڠاڤورا‎ (Jawi)
 • Tamilசிங்கப்பூர் நதி
Ciṅkappūr nati (Transliteration)
Location in Central Region
Country Singapore
RegionCentral Region
CDC
Town council
  • Tanjong Pagar Town Council
  • Jalan Besar Town Council
Constituency
DGP exhibited
PA incorporated
  • 22 January 1999[1]
Government
 • MayorCentral Singapore CDC
 • Members of ParliamentTanjong Pagar GRC

Jalan Besar GRC

Area
 • Total0.96 km2 (0.37 sq mi)
 • Rank52nd
Population
 (2018)
 • Total3,070
 • Rank32nd
 • Density3,200/km2 (8,300/sq mi)
  • Rank31st
Postal district
01, 03, 06, 09, 10

Singapore River planning area sits within the Central Area of the Central Region of Singapore, as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The planning area shares boundaries with the following – River Valley and Museum to the north, Tanglin and Bukit Merah to the west, Outram to the south, and the Downtown Core to the east.

Since 2008, the Singapore River was turned into a fresh water river after the completion of the Marina Barrage at Marina South.

Geography edit

 
Singapore river at River Valley. Facing South.

The Singapore River is approximately 3.2 kilometers long[2] from its source at Kim Seng Bridge to where it empties into Marina Bay; the river extends more than two kilometers beyond its original source at Kim Seng Bridge as Alexandra Canal, as far as the junction of Commonwealth Avenue.[3]

History edit

The mouth of the Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore, being naturally sheltered by the southern islands. Historically, the city of Singapore initially grew around the port so the river mouth became the centre of trade, commerce and finance.

Old maps of the river state that it actually originates from Bukit Larangan (currently Fort Canning Hill).

Heavy traffic edit

 
Commercial skyscrapers across the Singapore River

Starting in 1819, there was heavy traffic on the Singapore River due to rapid urbanization and expanding trade.[4] At the same time, it brought in water pollution caused by the disposal of garbage, sewage and other by-products of industries located along the river's banks. The sources of water pollution in the Singapore River and Kallang Basin included waste from pig and duck farms, unsewered premises, street hawkers and vegetable whole sellers. Riverine activities such as transport, boat building and repairs were also found along the Singapore River.

 
Singapore River in the early 1960s

Some 750 lighters plied along the Singapore River and Kallang Basin in 1977. Waste, oil spills and wastewater from these boats and lighters added to the pollution of the rivers. In 1977, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew called for a clean-up of Singapore's rivers, which included the Singapore River and the Kallang River. The clean-up cost the government $300 million at the time and involved the relocation of about 4,000 squatters, along with hawkers and vegetable sellers, whose daily waste flowed into the river. Public housing was found for the squatters, while street hawkers were persuaded to move to established hawker centres. The government then completely dredged foul-smelling mud from the banks and the bottom of the river, clearing the debris and other rubbish.[5]

Singapore River today edit

Due to such cleaning efforts, the Singapore River has significantly changed from one that was heavily busy and polluted to one that is clean for marine animals. The re-emergence of monitor lizards and otters in the Singapore River has been attributed to the success of the river's cleanup.[6][7]

Whereas the original mouth of the Singapore River emptied into Singapore Straits and its southern islands before major land reclamation took place, the Singapore River now empties into Marina Bay – an area of water partially enclosed by the reclamation work.

The Port of Singapore is now located to the west of the island, using most of the south-west coast, and passenger ships to Singapore now typically berth at the Singapore Cruise Centre at Harbourfront. Thus the Singapore River's economic role has shifted away from one that of trade, towards more a role accommodated for tourism and aesthetics for the commercial zone which encloses it. Traversing across the river is available via water taxis.[8]

The river is now part of the Marina Reservoir after damming the Singapore River at its outlet to the sea to create a new reservoir of freshwater. The dam is known as the Marina Barrage.[9]

Sculptures edit

There are a number of sculptures along the Singapore River.[10] Many of these depict the life of people living and working along the river during the early days of Singapore.

Notable sculptures include:[11]

Bridges and tunnels edit

 
As viewed from what is now Marina Bay, Singapore, circa 1900s
 
Singapore river in River Valley facing North-west

Between 1819, when the first wooden jetty and the first bridge were built over the Singapore River in Singapore, and in 2015, 14 bridges were built across the river (or 17, although the Marina Reservoir, where the estuary is now located, is considered a Singapore River). Until 1819, the river could only be crossed by boats and ferries. Some of the bridges were demolished and rebuilt or their purpose was changed.

 
Singapore River at River Valley facing west

The first bridge in Singapore was built over the Singapore river in 1819 where the Elgin Bridge now stands. There have been two Elgin bridges at some point. The first iron-made Elgin Bridge was built in 1862 and named after Lord Elgin. It was later demolished and replaced with the current Elgin bridge in 1926.[12] Other bridges along the river include the Coleman Bridge (1840), Kim Seng Bridge (1862), Cavenagh Bridge (1869), and Read Bridge (1889). The most recent bridges are the Helix Bridge (2010), Bayfront Bridge (2010), and the Jubilee Bridge (2015).

 
Clarke Quay along the banks of the Singapore River

e

Gallery edit

 
Panoramic view of the Singapore River
  •  
    Bird Sculpture by Fernando Botero
  •  
    Statue of Stamford Raffles
  •  
    A Great Emporium by Malcolm Koh
  •  
    The First Generation by Chong Fah Cheong
  •  
    The Dalhousie Obelisk
  •  
    The River Merchants by Aw Tee Hong

References edit

Library resources about
Singapore River
  1. ^ a b "Singapore Infopedia – Development guide plan". National Library Board.
  2. ^ Leary, Michael E.; McCarthy, John (2013-10-30). The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration. Routledge. p. 132. ISBN 9781136266546.
  3. ^ "Singapore River Cruise". Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  4. ^ . Heritage Trails. Archived from the original on 2009-08-22. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
  5. ^ migration (2014-07-04). "5 interesting facts about the Singapore River clean-up". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2016-07-09.
  6. ^ . National Geographic. March 10, 2020. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021.
  7. ^ Ng, Cherlynn (18 March 2022). "TGIF: Monitor lizards have a family feast along Kallang River". Stomp. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Singapore River". www.ura.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  9. ^ . PUB. 2008. Archived from the original on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Sir Stamford Raffles statue and other sculptures along Singapore River to be cleaned next week". The Straits Times. Singapore. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  11. ^ Ang, Benson (18 September 2016). "Sculptures by the Singapore River get a spruce up". The Straits Times. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  12. ^ "Singapore Slider: Then & Now | The Straits Times". Singapore Slider: Then & Now | The Straits Times. Retrieved 2022-12-21.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Singapore River at Wikimedia Commons
  •   Singapore River travel guide from Wikivoyage

1°17′15″N 103°51′11″E / 1.28750°N 103.85306°E / 1.28750; 103.85306

January 01, 1970
singapore, river, river, that, flows, parallel, alexandra, road, feeds, into, marina, reservoir, southern, part, singapore, immediate, upper, watershed, known, planning, area, although, western, part, watershed, classified, under, river, valley, planning, area. The Singapore River is a river that flows parallel to Alexandra Road and feeds into the Marina Reservoir in the southern part of Singapore The immediate upper watershed of the Singapore River is known as the Singapore River Planning Area although the western part of the watershed is classified under the River Valley planning area Singapore RiverSingapore River flowing through Singapore s central business district Early 19th century map of the Singapore River basin Native nameSungai Singapura Malay 新加坡河 Chinese ச ங கப ப ர நத Tamil LocationCountry SingaporePhysical characteristicsSource locationAlexandra CanalMouth locationMarina ChannelLength3 2 km 2 0 mi Singapore RiverPlanning AreaOther transcription s Chinese新加坡河 Xinjiapō he Pinyin Sin ka pho ho Hokkien POJ MalaySungai Singapura Rumi سوڠاي سيڠاڤورا Jawi Tamilச ங கப ப ர நத Ciṅkappur nati Transliteration Location in Central RegionCountry SingaporeRegionCentral RegionCDCCentral Singapore CDCTown councilTanjong Pagar Town Council Jalan Besar Town CouncilConstituencyTanjong Pagar GRC Jalan Besar GRCDGP exhibited1994 1 PA incorporated22 January 1999 1 Government MayorCentral Singapore CDC Denise Phua Members of ParliamentTanjong Pagar GRC Alvin Tan Jalan Besar GRC Denise PhuaArea Total0 96 km2 0 37 sq mi Rank52ndPopulation 2018 Total3 070 Rank32nd Density3 200 km2 8 300 sq mi Rank31stPostal district01 03 06 09 10 Singapore River planning area sits within the Central Area of the Central Region of Singapore as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority The planning area shares boundaries with the following River Valley and Museum to the north Tanglin and Bukit Merah to the west Outram to the south and the Downtown Core to the east Since 2008 the Singapore River was turned into a fresh water river after the completion of the Marina Barrage at Marina South Contents 1 Geography 2 History 2 1 Heavy traffic 2 2 Singapore River today 3 Sculptures 4 Bridges and tunnels 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksGeography edit nbsp Singapore river at River Valley Facing South The Singapore River is approximately 3 2 kilometers long 2 from its source at Kim Seng Bridge to where it empties into Marina Bay the river extends more than two kilometers beyond its original source at Kim Seng Bridge as Alexandra Canal as far as the junction of Commonwealth Avenue 3 History editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it September 2022 The mouth of the Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore being naturally sheltered by the southern islands Historically the city of Singapore initially grew around the port so the river mouth became the centre of trade commerce and finance Old maps of the river state that it actually originates from Bukit Larangan currently Fort Canning Hill Heavy traffic edit nbsp Commercial skyscrapers across the Singapore River Starting in 1819 there was heavy traffic on the Singapore River due to rapid urbanization and expanding trade 4 At the same time it brought in water pollution caused by the disposal of garbage sewage and other by products of industries located along the river s banks The sources of water pollution in the Singapore River and Kallang Basin included waste from pig and duck farms unsewered premises street hawkers and vegetable whole sellers Riverine activities such as transport boat building and repairs were also found along the Singapore River nbsp Singapore River in the early 1960s Some 750 lighters plied along the Singapore River and Kallang Basin in 1977 Waste oil spills and wastewater from these boats and lighters added to the pollution of the rivers In 1977 Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew called for a clean up of Singapore s rivers which included the Singapore River and the Kallang River The clean up cost the government 300 million at the time and involved the relocation of about 4 000 squatters along with hawkers and vegetable sellers whose daily waste flowed into the river Public housing was found for the squatters while street hawkers were persuaded to move to established hawker centres The government then completely dredged foul smelling mud from the banks and the bottom of the river clearing the debris and other rubbish 5 Singapore River today edit Due to such cleaning efforts the Singapore River has significantly changed from one that was heavily busy and polluted to one that is clean for marine animals The re emergence of monitor lizards and otters in the Singapore River has been attributed to the success of the river s cleanup 6 7 Whereas the original mouth of the Singapore River emptied into Singapore Straits and its southern islands before major land reclamation took place the Singapore River now empties into Marina Bay an area of water partially enclosed by the reclamation work The Port of Singapore is now located to the west of the island using most of the south west coast and passenger ships to Singapore now typically berth at the Singapore Cruise Centre at Harbourfront Thus the Singapore River s economic role has shifted away from one that of trade towards more a role accommodated for tourism and aesthetics for the commercial zone which encloses it Traversing across the river is available via water taxis 8 The river is now part of the Marina Reservoir after damming the Singapore River at its outlet to the sea to create a new reservoir of freshwater The dam is known as the Marina Barrage 9 Sculptures editThere are a number of sculptures along the Singapore River 10 Many of these depict the life of people living and working along the river during the early days of Singapore Notable sculptures include 11 First Generation made by Chong Fah Cheong Fishing at Singapore River made by Chern Lian Shan The River Merchants made by Aw Tee Hong A Great Emporium made by Malcolm Koh From Chettiars to Financiers made by Chern Lian Shan Singapura Cats made by various artistsBridges and tunnels edit nbsp As viewed from what is now Marina Bay Singapore circa 1900s nbsp Singapore river in River Valley facing North west Between 1819 when the first wooden jetty and the first bridge were built over the Singapore River in Singapore and in 2015 14 bridges were built across the river or 17 although the Marina Reservoir where the estuary is now located is considered a Singapore River Until 1819 the river could only be crossed by boats and ferries Some of the bridges were demolished and rebuilt or their purpose was changed nbsp Singapore River at River Valley facing west The first bridge in Singapore was built over the Singapore river in 1819 where the Elgin Bridge now stands There have been two Elgin bridges at some point The first iron made Elgin Bridge was built in 1862 and named after Lord Elgin It was later demolished and replaced with the current Elgin bridge in 1926 12 Other bridges along the river include the Coleman Bridge 1840 Kim Seng Bridge 1862 Cavenagh Bridge 1869 and Read Bridge 1889 The most recent bridges are the Helix Bridge 2010 Bayfront Bridge 2010 and the Jubilee Bridge 2015 nbsp Clarke Quay along the banks of the Singapore RivereColeman Bridge 1840 1985 Kim Seng Bridge 1862 Elgin Bridge 1862 1926 Cavenagh Bridge 1870 Ord Bridge 1886 Read Bridge 1889 Pulau Saigon Bridge 1890 Anderson Bridge 1910 Clemenceau Bridge 1940 Benjamin Sheares Bridge 1981 East West MRT line and North South MRT line between City Hall and Raffles Place 1987 1989 nbsp Aerial Panorama of Merlion Park The Singapore River ends its journey here Chin Swee Tunnel carrying the Central Expressway 1991 Esplanade Bridge 1997 Robertson Bridge 1998 Jiak Kim Bridge 1999 Alkaff Bridge 1999 North East MRT line between Clarke Quay and Dhoby Ghaut 2003 Helix Bridge 2010 Bayfront Bridge 2010 Downtown MRT line and Circle MRT line between Promenade and Bayfront 2012 Jubilee Bridge 2015 Downtown MRT line between Fort Canning and Chinatown 2017 Thomson East Coast MRT line between Great World and Havelock 2022 Gallery edit nbsp Panoramic view of the Singapore River nbsp Bird Sculpture by Fernando Botero nbsp Statue of Stamford Raffles nbsp A Great Emporium by Malcolm Koh nbsp The First Generation by Chong Fah Cheong nbsp The Dalhousie Obelisk nbsp The River Merchants by Aw Tee HongReferences editLibrary resources about Singapore River Resources in your library Resources in other libraries a b Singapore Infopedia Development guide plan National Library Board Leary Michael E McCarthy John 2013 10 30 The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration Routledge p 132 ISBN 9781136266546 Singapore River Cruise Retrieved 2023 09 22 Singapore River Heritage Trails Archived from the original on 2009 08 22 Retrieved 2010 04 01 migration 2014 07 04 5 interesting facts about the Singapore River clean up The Straits Times Retrieved 2016 07 09 Cheeky otters are thriving in Singapore and adapting quickly to big city life National Geographic March 10 2020 Archived from the original on March 6 2021 Ng Cherlynn 18 March 2022 TGIF Monitor lizards have a family feast along Kallang River Stomp Retrieved 11 June 2022 Singapore River www ura gov sg Retrieved 11 June 2022 PUB annual report Birth of the barrage PUB 2008 Archived from the original on 7 April 2015 Retrieved 29 September 2016 Sir Stamford Raffles statue and other sculptures along Singapore River to be cleaned next week The Straits Times Singapore 3 February 2015 Retrieved 2015 11 23 Ang Benson 18 September 2016 Sculptures by the Singapore River get a spruce up The Straits Times Retrieved 19 September 2016 Singapore Slider Then amp Now The Straits Times Singapore Slider Then amp Now The Straits Times Retrieved 2022 12 21 External links edit nbsp Media related to Singapore River at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Singapore River travel guide from Wikivoyage Portals nbsp Singapore nbsp Rivers nbsp Transport 1 17 15 N 103 51 11 E 1 28750 N 103 85306 E 1 28750 103 85306 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Singapore River amp oldid 1221459963, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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