Description
Less than a mile from the oceanic Singapore Strait and framed by glowing skyscrapers, Marina Bay is formed by the meeting of the Singapore, Kallang, Geylang, and Rochor rivers. That means it's full of freshwater that's much gentler on rust-prone boat hulls than the saltwater held at bay by the Marina Barrage dam. Unlike the city-state's busy port system, though, this safe harbor is only accessible from the inland side, with the dam preventing passage to and from the great, salty beyond. Surrounding the bay is Singapore's beating heart: the Downtown Core, which hosts the city-state's famous finance sector and many high-rise hotels, also acting as a mass transit hub and center of government.