Pulau Pawai
Encyclopedia
Pulau Pawai, also known as Alligator Island during the colonial
times, is a 182,000 m² island
located within the Singapore Armed Forces
Live Firing Area. It is located off the southwestern coast of Singapore
, between Pulau Sudong
to its north and Pulau Satumu
to its south. It is one of the three islands owned by the Singapore Armed Forces for live firing exercises, the other two being Pulau Sudong and Pulau Senang
.
and Pulau Sudong
, these three islands formed the Singapore Armed Forces
southern islands military
training area and live-firing zone. As with all other military installations within the country, the entire live-firing zone is strictly off limits to all civilians at all times of the day and night.
The island is used mainly as a practice range for live-ammunition bombing both from the air and the ground. The Republic of Singapore Air Force
and Navy
take turns to use it, with the Air Force practicing strafing and the Navy practicing shelling targets.
Pawai's lush green and brown forests are mostly undisturbed and it has been found to have a rich biodiversity of coral reefs, especially fringing reef
s.
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
times, is a 182,000 m² island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
located within the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
Live Firing Area. It is located off the southwestern coast of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, between Pulau Sudong
Pulau Sudong
Pulau Sudong is a 209-hectare coral island off the southern coast of Singapore, it was enlarged through a land reclamation process during the late 1970s.-Restricted area:...
to its north and Pulau Satumu
Pulau Satumu
Pulau Satumu is a small island to the south of the main Singapore island, and the southernmost island of Singapore. The Raffles Lighthouse is located on the island. The island's name means "One Tree" in the Malay Language....
to its south. It is one of the three islands owned by the Singapore Armed Forces for live firing exercises, the other two being Pulau Sudong and Pulau Senang
Pulau Senang
Pulau Senang is a 81.7-hectare coral island about 13 kilometres off the southern coast of Singapore. Along with Pulau Pawai and Pulau Sudong, it is used as a military training area for live-fire exercises...
.
Restricted area
Since the early 1980s, the island together with Pulau SenangPulau Senang
Pulau Senang is a 81.7-hectare coral island about 13 kilometres off the southern coast of Singapore. Along with Pulau Pawai and Pulau Sudong, it is used as a military training area for live-fire exercises...
and Pulau Sudong
Pulau Sudong
Pulau Sudong is a 209-hectare coral island off the southern coast of Singapore, it was enlarged through a land reclamation process during the late 1970s.-Restricted area:...
, these three islands formed the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
southern islands military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
training area and live-firing zone. As with all other military installations within the country, the entire live-firing zone is strictly off limits to all civilians at all times of the day and night.
The island is used mainly as a practice range for live-ammunition bombing both from the air and the ground. The Republic of Singapore Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
and Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
take turns to use it, with the Air Force practicing strafing and the Navy practicing shelling targets.
Pawai's lush green and brown forests are mostly undisturbed and it has been found to have a rich biodiversity of coral reefs, especially fringing reef
Fringing reef
A fringing reef is one of the three main types of coral reefs recognized by most coral reef scientists. It is distinguished from the other two main types in that it has either an entirely shallow backreef zone or none at all...
s.
Etymology
"Pawai" means cortège or suite of the Raja, so presumably the retinue of the Raja stayed on this island.Panoramic image