Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh), Singapore

Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh), Singapore

Pedra Branca is a small rocky outcrop that marks the easternmost point of Singapore. Pedra Branca means "white rock" in Portuguese. The name refers to the whitish guano deposited on the rocks by the black-naped tern, which uses the outcrop as a nesting ground.

Pedra Branca was formerly called Pulau Batu Puteh in Malaysia. In 2008 the word "pulau" (island) was dropped from the name when the then Foreign Minister of Malaysia, Rais Yatim, commented that the outcrop does not meet internationally recognised criteria for an island.

The sovereignty over Pedra Branca was a matter of dispute between Malaysia and Singapore. The matter was taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for resolution. On 23 May 2008, the ICJ ruled that Pedra Branca belonged to Singapore, considering, among others, that maps published by the Malayan and Malaysian Surveyor General and Director of General Mapping in 1962, 1965, 1970, 1974 and 1975 have indicated Pedra Branca with the word "Singapore" or "Singapura" under it.

Map of Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh), Singapore

Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) is on the Map of Islands of Singapore

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