The main island is about twenty-six miles wide and stretches around fourteen miles from north to south. Almost half its area is built-up. Singapore's climate is tropical and very humid. The winter monsoon period brings the greatest amount of rain. The island has no natural resources except for its location on the trade routes between East and West and the geography which has given it one of the world's finest deep harbours.
Some forest areas remain in the north of the island.
Only around two percent of the land is used for agriculture. The wildlife of the island is now limited to smaller animals such as wild cats, flying squirrels, monkeys, lizards and snakes. There are around one hundred species of birds and some four hundred types of butterflies. The larger mammals such as tigers and bears have been wiped out. Nearly ninety percent of Singapore's population lives in public housing, built by the government, so apartment blocks are part of the landscape.