St. John's Island Complex
A vibrant micro archipelago in Singapore city
The St. John’s Island Complex (SJI-C) is a cluster of four tropical islands located just five kilometers from Marina Bay Cruise Centre. These islands include St. John’s Island, Lazarus Island, Pulau Seringat, and Kias, and they are home to irreplaceable natural and cultural resources found nowhere else in Singapore. These resources give us the priceless insight needed to respond to challenges such as climate change, food security, and building liveable cities.
Scroll through this StoryMap and use your observation skills as you explore the islands, travel back in time and meet some of the ancient living organisms that live here by clicking on interactive images and viewing videos. All bolded words you come across in the text are defined at the very bottom of the StoryMap.
The St. John's Island Complex (SJI-C)
The St. John's Island Complex (SJI-C) comprises four tropical islands merged through land reclamation.
The western coast of St. John's Island is protected within the Sisters' Islands Marine Park , and is the base for the Marine Park Outreach and Education Center , and the St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory .
Use the zoom function to explore the map above. Try to find where you live!
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Photo: Great-billed Heron (Ardea sumatrana) found in SJI-C. Credit: Francis Yap
Our coastal and marine ecosystems are a priceless resource for education, research and tourism. Magnificent living reefs, mangroves and coastal forests enhance our quality of life in the city by improving water quality, protecting our shores from damage by storms and sea-level rise, and purifying the air that we breathe. Healthy coastal and marine ecosystems enrich our life in the city by lowering ambient temperatures. Trees and sea grasses can reduce our environmental impact by trapping carbon produced by our city lifestyles. Many have also begun to discover the joy and benefits of escaping the concrete jungle to restore our physical and emotional health.
The resilience of our coastal and marine habitats are supported by the rich biodiversity that can be found in these systems. To ensure the health of these ecosystems, we must protect its biodiversity. Learn about these ecosystems below and discover how they each support unique communities of wildlife!
Cultural Heritage
St. John's Island, 1908. National Archives of Singapore
Origins of the St. John's Island
Did you know that the recorded history of our islands is at least four hundred years old? Since the 1800s, Lazarus Island, Pulau Seringat and St. John's Island were inhabited by Malays and Orang Laut from the Indonesian Riau Islands and Malaysia. At that time, the islands were governed by the Temenggong (Chief of security) of the Johor-Riau Empire. As the popularity of Singapore port grew, she gained the attention of the British East India Company that sought to expand its influence in the region.
The videos below reveal more about our life and relationship with our islands in the past, and today. Be sure to check out all three parts of "Pulau Seking: The Last Island".
Natural Heritage
The combination of natural coastal forests, rocky shores and coral reefs right next to our urban city is what makes Singapore one of the most beautiful and liveable coastal cities in the world. Between 1970 to 2000, Kias, Pulau Seringat and Lazarus Island endured large-scale development works that saw the construction of seawalls, toilets, and other recreational amenities. Swipe across the images below to witness how these developments have transformed our coast.
The coloured photograph taken from St. John's Island in 2020 shows the jetty, Kias, Seringat Island, and the northern tip of Lazarus Island. Contrast this with the photograph from 1909, that also shows the jetty, goods shed, distilling plant, and the same islands before reclamation. Photos courtesy Saad Chinoy, 2020; A. R. Wellington, Wellcome Collection.
Since the halt to development, wildlife has returned to re-build their homes on these islands. The rustic charm created by our forests and wildlife entice visitors at home and from all over the world.
These islands are a refuge for several endangered mangrove trees that are now extinct from Singapore's main island.
The resilience of these trees represent an opportunity for us to restore and revive our islands.
Explore our reefs and forests by clicking on the links in the interactive images below! Images are VR ready.
Listen to the sounds of the mangrove. Look out for crabs, amphibious fish, and the animals that feed on them! Don't forget to look upward into the canopy!
Our reefs are home to Neptune's Cup, unique sea sponge, that was once thought to be globally extinct.
What else might we discover if we keep exploring?
Listen to the sounds of the reef and explore geological formations along the rocky shore. Don't forget to meet the marine animals that frequently visits these islands!
The coastal forests of Pulau Seringat are important for migratory and resident birds.
One of the natural features that are most distinct and easy to appreciate, are the geological formations on the boundary of St. John's and Lazarus Islands.
These natural landscapes are a major contributor to the islands’ ambience and charm, yet their existence is critically threatened.
Travel back in time by scrolling through the slideshow below!
Marine Science R & D
St John's Island is currently home to two existing marine offshore facilities:
The St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory (SJINML) and the Marine Aquaculture Centre (MAC).
