Merlion Park, Public park near Marina Bay, Singapore
Merlion Park is a waterfront green space along Marina Bay in the heart of Singapore, facing the harbor district. The best-known figure here is a white stone sculpture of a hybrid creature with a lion head and fish tail, spouting water from its mouth into the bay and standing on a low platform at the water's edge.
Sculptor Lim Nang Seng and his children created the stone figure in 1972 at the original site near the mouth of the Singapore River. The entire structure was later relocated in 2002 to its current spot at One Fullerton to allow for a better view of the bay.
The name Singapore comes from the Malay word Singapura, meaning Lion City, reflected in the head of the statue. The fish tail reminds visitors that this area was once a small fishing village called Temasek before the modern city emerged.
The site is accessible around the clock and sits just a short walk from Raffles Place MRT station. Early morning or late evening hours offer cooler temperatures and fewer crowds, making photography easier.
Next to the large figure stands a smaller cub that measures only about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall and is also carved from white stone. Together, both sculptures weigh more than 70 tons and were built to spray water from a recirculating system into the bay.
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