Pedra Branca
Pedra Branca (meaning White Rock in Portuguese. Also known as Pulau Batu Putih in Malaysia) is a pile of rocks situated where the Singapore Strait meets the South China Sea, measuring at its longest, during low water spring tide, a mere 137 meters. It has a land area of 2,000 m². It was recorded as early as 1583, by the Dutch voyager Johann van Linschoten, that Pedra Branca is where ships that come and go to and from China pass in great danger and some are left upon it. Between 1824 and 1851, at least 25 sizeable vessels met with disaster on those rocks. Even recently, from 2000 to 2004 there were 2 reports of ship collisions. In 1851, the Horsburgh lighthouse was built and named after a Scottish captain who mapped the waters of the area.
Territorial dispute
The island is disputed by Singapore and Malaysia. Malaysia only placed Pedra Branca into her maps in 1979. However, Singapore only became independent of Malaysia in 1965, and the independence documents do not include Pedra Branca.
See alsoForeign relations of SingaporeList of disputed or occupied territories
External linkPicture of the lighthouseDecisions of the International Court of JusticeSingapore's position over Pedra BrancaInformation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
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