Singapore River

View from the OCBC Centre on the Singapore River

F fVorlage: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Singapore River ( Sungai malai. Singapura, Chinese新加坡 河, Pinyin Xinjiapo Hé ) is a small river that threads its way through the city area of Singapore carves and has a great historical significance for the city. The Singapore River begins in the Central Area in the southern part of the city of Singapore, and finally flows into the Marina Bay, which is the access to the Pacific. The upper catchment area of the river water is known as the Singapore River Planning Area, the northernmost part of the watershed is the River Valley. Almost all the shoreline of the river belong to the central commercial districts of the city. He is one of a total of 90 rivers and streams that exist in Singapore and the city-state to the islands belonging.

Geography

The Singapore River today has a length of just 3.2 km. His current origin is located at the Kim Seng Bridge, from where it winds through the center of Singapore and opens into the Marina Bay and thus in the Pacific. It is fed by the Alexandra Canal, which runs from the Commonwealth Avenue ago. Among the former river sections are adjacent to the Alexandra Canal, which shows up in the North Buona Vista Road, Sungei Ulu Pandan and the poking in the Sungei Pandan. This in turn flows at the level of the West Coast Park in the ocean. The source of the two waterways (Alexandra Sungei Ulu Pandan and channel ) is located in the Queenstown district in the area Ridout Road and Tanglin Halt near the Margaret Drive. Along with these former sections of the river he once had a length of 11 km.

History

When Sir Stamford Raffles in January 1819 the Singapore River reached, he was here before the people of the Orang sound. He immediately began negotiations with the record " Temenggung ", one originating from Johor nobles, who ruled until then about the area and since 1811 been moved there led group. Already at the moment of landing, Raffles had the importance of the river have recognized, because already in the same year 1819 was begun to drain the north shore for the establishment of the government building. From 1822 we started on the south bank a land reclamation project and built on the banks of the river retaining walls and stairs.

The mouth of the Singapore River and was originally the old port of Singapore, which was enclosed in a natural way through the southern islands of the city state. Historically, the city of Singapore initially grew around this port, so that the estuary has already become early to trade, commercial and financial center. To this day, the area has remained at the old mouth of the Singapore River, the Downtown Core, the most expensive and most economically important district of Singapore.

On the south shore living in the past, notably the Chinese, the Malays settled in kampongs further upstream and the Indians inhabited until they were ousted by the Chinese, the districts of Rochor, Kallang and Geylang.

In past times, the Singapore River provided the lifeblood of the colony dar. He was the main artery of trade, the center of commerce and the heart of the re-export trade. The river was once full of lighters, Bumboats ( provisions boats), Tongkangs and sampans, while dragging along its banks bullock carts to and from the formerly rocky estuary. Already long before that existed here a civilization that was finally conquered in 1376 by ​​the Javanese Majapahit Empire and had set it. It can be assumed that there had to sail along, which gave the city its name to legend, the Singha Pura ( Lion City ) and the Malay prince.

With the expansion of trade, but increased the density of traffic. thus also the pollution of the river increased. In addition, the bridges were built due to the lack of knowledge about either the time or lack of foresight, too low and the river was too shallow to serve the expanding navigation as a waterway. Nonetheless, was the historical river, Raffles had once formed from saline alluvial sandbanks and mangrove swamps, at that time a certificate of British rule, the Singapore coined until the year 1962.

Pollution and cleaning

From the year 1880, the traffic density along the Singapore River due to the strong expansion of trade, urbanization and economic activities of the Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnic groups grew. To the same extent, however, increased as the water pollution caused by the discharge of refuse, as well as the inflow of sewage and other by-products of the settled along the river industries. For the pollution of the river and the Kallang Basin ensured, other factors, such as the waste from pig and duck farms, the residues of the road and vegetable wholesale trade and the existence of many commercial buildings without drains. The transportation, boat building and the shipyards along the river wore a Rest contributor to pollution in the water. Thus there were in 1977 about 750 barges were operated along the Singapore River and the Kallang Basin. The residues, heavy oils and waste of these boats and barges loaded the river even more.

This year, Lee Kuan Yew, the then Prime Minister of Singapore, brought an ambitious plan under the heading "The clean-up of the Singapore River and Kallang Basin " forward who had the cleansing of the two main water as possible, and within ten years the river, the fish should enable again.

This autumn, finally began, initiated by the Government Cleaning of the river. The plan included, among other things, the development of infrastructure, such as the construction of housing, the construction of industrial workshops and the creation of sewers. In this context, the relocation of squatters, traders and industry was also heavily promoted. Likewise, you moved the livestock, which was until then operated in backyards, away from the center and forced the transformation of the street vendors to malls, which gradually led to a reduction of pollution sources. Facilities located on the River industrial enterprises were transferred to other locations and the squatter billeted in homes. Daily masses were fed on waste incineration, while hawkers are exhibited licenses and assigned them specific areas with adequate sewerage facilities. The excavation of the river bed and the removal of hundreds of tons of debris remains that had piled up over the years at the bottom of the Singapore River, eventually supported the return of marine biology and reached that the river could be influenced by the tide again.

1987, ten years after the start of operations, the cleaning process of the Singapore River and Kallang Basin was the finally completed. In September 1987, the Ministry of the Environment together with other government bodies and law enforcement officials celebrated the successful implementation of the project with a "Clean Rivers Commemoration ". After this extensive cleaning, it is now possible to be able to gaze at variety shows on pontoons or even boat races on the river wayang performances which are listed on Bumboats. Thanks to this cleaning must be seen back on the water today both motor boats, dragon boats, as well as pedal boats and sampans.

The Singapore River today

After his discharge contained in the ocean and thus a new reservoir and therefore a valuable source of fresh water was created for the small city-state, the river is now a part of the Marina Reservoir. The dam itself is now known as Marina Barrage.

The area in which the original mouth of the river led once in the Strait of Singapore, was later expanded by land reclamation and changed. With these projects, among others, the Marina Bay emerged in which the Singapore River flows today.

The port of Singapore is now home to the west of the island and here occupies much of the south-western coast, where the passenger ships dock usually at the Singapore Cruise Centre at HarbourFront. Although the river traffic now plays no more important economic role, instead it has now developed into a tourist and aesthetic center of the city.

Thus one finds in the neighborhood and along the Singapore River, some temples, shrines and other places of worship, which are well worth a visit. In addition, it characterize numerous transitions and bridges, such as the Anderson Bridge, Elgin Bridge, Cavenagh Bridge, but also attractions like the Merlion, numerous shops and stores and the him seaming large trees, which include the banyan fig and the Madras Thorn. Some sections of the river are determined by Kais, such as the Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, which mainly serving the trade and the boat service. Alone by Boat Quay were still carried out three quarters of all boat trips in 1860. In neighborhood along the quays then flourished during the colonial era shops and department stores, in their building additionally bars and pubs, as well as are restaurants and antique shops drafted today.