Why not take the kids for some 'fun in the sun' and cool off at Marina Barrage?
This is exactly what we did on Saturday afternoon. As well as offering a place for us to play with Jaime in the 'water playground', we also took the opportunity to learn something about the 'environmental history' of Singapore in the (state-of-the-art) 'Sustainable Singapore' gallery.
If you've not been there before, I highly recommend a visit. For those driving, there is ample car-parking. For those who choose to take public transport, just catch the MRT to Marina Bay station, and follow the signs to the free shuttle bus service that runs every 10 or 15 minutes between the Station and Marina Barrage.
A really big thanks to my mate "Grassroots Mate", Anthony Loh and his family for the initial 'heads-up'!!
GALLERY OF OUR 'FUN IN THE SUN'
FROM PUB's WEBSITE:
Built across the mouth of the Marina Channel, the Marina Barrage creates Singapore’s 15th reservoir, and the first in the heart of the city. With a catchment area of 10,000 hectares, or one-sixth the size of Singapore, the Marina catchment is the island’s largest and most urbanised catchment. Together with two other new reservoirs, the Marina Reservoir will boost Singapore’s water catchment from half to two-third’s of the country’s land area.
The Marina Barrage is the result of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s vision nearly two decades ago when he envisaged damming the mouth of the Marina Channel to create a freshwater reservoir.
3-in-1 Benefits
1. Water Supply
2. Flood Control
3. Lifestyle Attraction
Water Supply
The Marina Barrage is a 350-meter wide dam built across the Marina Channel to keep out seawater, forming Singapore’s first reservoir in the city and 15th reservoir. Marina Reservoir combines with the future Punggol and Serangoon reservoirs will increase Singapore’s water catchment areas from half to two-thirds of Singapore’s land areas.
With the barrage in place, the Marina Basin will turn into a body of freshwater through natural flushing in one two to years. The freshwater will then be treated using advanced membrane technology before consumption.
Local catchment water is one of the Four National Taps, with the other three being imported water, NEWater and desalinated water.
As one of the pillars of local water supply, Marina Reservoir will meet more than 10% of Singapore’s current water demand.
Flood Control
The Marina Barrage is part of a comprehensive flood control scheme to alleviate flooding in the low-lying areas in the city such as Chinatown, Boat Quay, Jalan Besar and Geylang.
During heavy rain, the series of nine crest gates at the dam will be activated to release excess storm water into the sea when the tide is low.
In the case of high tide, giant pumps which are capable of pumping an Olympics-size swimming pool per minute will drain excess storm water into the sea.
Lifestyle Attraction
As the water in the Marina Basin is unaffected by the tides, its water level will be kept constant all year round. This is ideal for all kinds of recreational activities such as boating, windsurfing, kayaking and dragonboating etc.
2 comments:
great post! I stopped off at Singapore on the way to Oz and its a great place!
I remember there was a storm and its was still sooo humid the rain was steaming off the ground, bit different to old England!
Mannnn. Pete - your son is sooo cute!!! I wanna pinch his cheeks!
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