Singapore's Landform: Findings from the 2009 NUS Geography Study

A 2009 National University of Singapore study characterized Singapore's topography as follows:

• Shape: Elongated east–west, ~42 km long × 23 km wide.
• Central Highlands: Bukit Timah Hill (164 m), the highest point, sits centrally.
• Lowlands: Southern and eastern coasts feature extensive low-lying plains.
• Neighbors: Pulau Ubin (second-largest island) lies northeast; the Riau Islands (Indonesia) are west across the Strait of Singapore.
• Hydrology: The Singapore Strait connects the South China Sea to the Indian Ocean.

This geography underpins Singapore's urban planning, port dominance, and land-reclamation strategies.