The Merlion Statue In the Harbour Area

Legend says that the discoverer of Singapore came face to face with a lion, and the word Singapore contains a reference to the lion. The lion became the official symbol of Singapore, but in the 1970's the government thought the country's image could be boosted by a change in symbol and so the Merlion was created. Half lion and half mermaid. In the harbour area which is being rapidly developed with the construction of a huge ferris wheel like at Canary Wharf in London and a new casino, this Merlion statue sends a stream of water into the sea.