Pulau Hantu
| Pulau Hantu | |
|---|---|
| Name transcription(s) | |
| • Chinese | 韩都岛/鬼岛 |
| • Pinyin | hándū dǎo/guǐ dǎo |
| • Malay | Pulau Hantu |
| • Tamil | பேய் தீவு |
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 Pulau Hantu
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| Coordinates: 1°13′34″N 103°43′00″E / 1.22611°N 103.71667°ECoordinates: 1°13′34″N 103°43′00″E / 1.22611°N 103.71667°E | |
| Country | Singapore |
Pulau Hantu is located to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. Pulau Hantu is actually made up of two islets: Pulau Hantu Besar (Big Ghost Island) and Pulau Hantu Kechil (Little Ghost Island), with a total area of 12.6 hectares. At low tide, it is possible to wade across the shallow lagoon between the two islands, but not at high tide.
The name Pulau Hantu literally means "Ghost Island" in Malay.
It may refer to the "disappearing" moment of the mid part of the island during the high tide. During the low tide, Pulau Hantu can be seen as one island with two large bays on the northern and southern side of the island. However, during the high tide, the water level in the bays would rise and the midsection of the island (which is geographically lower than other parts) would disappear under the tide and result in two smaller islands.
Pulau Hantu was where Malay warriors once duelled to the death and their ghosts are said to wander the island.
There were once two great warriors locked in a fierce battle at sea. Many people died and the blue seas slowly became polluted with human blood, upsetting the Jinns at the bottom of the ocean. In anger, one powerful Jinn created a whirlpool and sucked the two warriors into the deep sea to drown them. Not deterred, they continued their battle. Suddenly, the Jinn sprayed water on one of them. The other warrior, seeing his opponent blinded, thrust his sword into his abdomen. At the same time, the wounded warrior plunged his sword into the other man. Both collapsed and died.
The gods felt it was wrong for the sea spirits to interfere in human affairs. Thus, the Jinn transformed the two warriors into islets so that their spirits can continue to live on them. As one of the warriors was smaller than the other, his islet was known as Pulau Hantu Kecil while the bigger one was called Pulau Hantu Besar.
Despite its forbidding name, Pulau Hantu is a favourite haunt for fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts because of its sheltered beaches, swimming lagoons and inviting waters. The islands are also popular with campers and day-trippers who prefer a unique outdoor experience.
Pulau Hantu has rich reefs despite its proximity to Pulau Bukom's refineries. A wide variety of corals can be found on Pulau Hantu, and mushroom corals are particularly abundant in the waters surrounding the islands. Common sea life that can also be found include the clown fish or anemonefish, damselfishes, wrasses and angelfish. The rare giant clam and the seahorse can sometimes be seen. There is a small patch of mangroves between Pulau Hantu Kecil and Pulau Hantu Besar, where native seashore plants also line their beaches.
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Wikipedia