Brunei Darussalam: A Gem On The World Map

Brunei Darussalam, officially the State of Brunei and also known as the Nation of Brunei, is a small oil-rich country located in Southeast Asia. It is situated on the northern coast of Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, which lies between Indochina and Australia. Brunei is divided into two non-contiguous territories by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It has a population of approximately 455,858 people (as of 2023), with about two-thirds residing in the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. The country has a total area of 5,765 square kilometres, a coastline of 161 kilometres along the South China Sea, and shares a 381-kilometre border with Malaysia.

Brunei is located in Southeast Asia

Brunei, officially the State of Brunei Darussalam, is located in Southeast Asia. It is a small oil-rich sultanate situated on the northwestern coast of Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, between Indochina and Australia. Brunei is bordered by the South China Sea to the north and Malaysia to the south, east and west. It is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Brunei is an incredibly small country, covering an area of 5,765 sq. km (2,226 sq mi) with a coastline of 161 km (100 mi) along the South China Sea. The country is divided into two non-contiguous territories separated by the Malaysian State of Sarawak. It is mostly low-lying with the occasional mountain and hilly terrain. Bukit Pagon, along the border with Malaysia in the eastern mountainous region, is the country's highest point at 6,069 ft (1,850 m).

Brunei has a population of approximately 455,858 as of 2023, with about two-thirds of its residents living in the capital and largest city, Bandar Seri Begawan. The official language is Malay, and Islam is the state religion. The country gains its wealth from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.

Brunei is a member of the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the East Asia Summit, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth of Nations, and ASEAN. It has a close relationship with Singapore and the Philippines and is one of many nations to lay claim to the disputed Spratly Islands.

It is bordered by the South China Sea

Brunei Darussalam, officially the State of Brunei and also known as the Nation of Brunei, is bordered by the South China Sea to the north. The country is located on the northern coast of Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, which lies between Indochina and Australia. Borneo is shared by Malaysia, Indonesia, and the sovereign state of Brunei, which covers 5,765 square kilometres (2,226 sq mi) and has a 161-kilometre (100 mi) coastline along the South China Sea.

Brunei's coastline is bordered by the South China Sea, with a flat coastal plain that gradually slopes upwards to the east, where mountains are found, and undulating lowlands in the west. The lowest point in Brunei is at sea level on the South China Sea coast, while the highest point is Bukit Pagon, at 6,069 feet (1,850 m), in the eastern mountainous region along the border with Malaysia.

Brunei has a maritime border with China and shares two land borders with Malaysia, which surrounds the rest of the country. The Malaysian state of Sarawak divides Brunei into two non-contiguous territories. The western segment, where the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan is located, is the larger of the two.

The coastal areas along the South China Sea are a wide swampy plain due to the numerous rivers that drain the land, including the Belait, Pandaruan, and Tutong.

Brunei is divided into two non-contiguous territories

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia that covers an area of 5,765 sq. km (2,226 sq mi) on the island of Borneo. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the north and Malaysia to the south, east, and west. Brunei is divided into two non-contiguous territories by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

The division of Brunei into two non-contiguous territories is a result of historical annexation and border agreements. Sarawak, which was a British protectorate and later a Crown Colony, gradually annexed territory from Brunei through leases and treaties during the 19th century. This led to the fragmentation of Brunei into two parts: the main part with three districts (Brunei-Muara, Tutong, and Belait) to the west of Limbang, and the Temburong district to the east.

The border between Brunei and Malaysia, including Sarawak, stretches for 528.45 km (328.36 mi) on land and includes maritime borders. The land border follows natural features such as river basins and watersheds, while the maritime border extends 200 nautical miles from the coastline of both countries.

The division of Brunei into two non-contiguous territories has had implications for the country's governance and development. The Temburong district, being separated from the rest of Brunei, faces unique challenges in terms of infrastructure and transportation connections. Additionally, the presence of two separate borders with Malaysia has influenced the country's foreign relations and border management.

The two territories of Brunei, despite their separation, share a common culture and history. They are both home to diverse ethnicities, including Malays, Chinese, and indigenous groups. The official language of Brunei is Standard Malay, and the country has a rich cultural heritage influenced by its Malay roots and Islamic faith.

In recent years, there have been efforts to improve connectivity between the two territories. In March 2020, a new 30-kilometre roadway connecting the Muara and Temburong districts was opened, including a 14-kilometre stretch across the Brunei Bay. This infrastructure project aims to enhance transportation and communication links between the two territories of Brunei.

The country is mostly low-lying

Brunei Darussalam, officially known as the Nation of Brunei, is a small Islamic Sultanate located on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is one of the world's smallest countries, covering an area of just 5,765 square kilometres (2,226 square miles) and boasting a coastline of 161 kilometres (100 miles) along the South China Sea.

The country is divided into two non-contiguous territories by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with Malaysia also bordering it on all other sides. Brunei's geography is characterised by a flat coastal plain that gradually slopes upwards, creating a low-lying landscape with few large mountains or hilly areas. The eastern region, however, stands in contrast as the most mountainous part of the country, where the nation's highest peak, Bukit Pagon, rises to a height of 1,850 metres (6,069 feet).

The western region of Brunei features undulating lowlands and swamps, while the coastal areas along the South China Sea form a wide swampy plain. Several rivers, including the Belait, Pandaruan, and Tutong, drain the land. The country's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is located on the northern banks of the Brunei River in the northeastern part of the country. It is the only major city and home to about two-thirds of Brunei's population.

Brunei's low-lying nature and flat coastal plain make it susceptible to environmental challenges. While earthquakes are rare, the country has experienced occasional earthquakes, typhoons, and severe flooding. Additionally, seasonal smoke and haze from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia impact the region.

Brunei is bordered by Malaysia

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a small country located in Southeast Asia, on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is completely surrounded by the sea to the north and by the Malaysian state of Sarawak to the south, east, and west, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei shares a 381-km land border and substantial lengths of maritime borders with Malaysia.

The Brunei-Malaysia border consists of a 528.45-km land border and maritime borders that stretch from the coastline of the two countries to the edge of the continental shelf in the South China Sea. The land border between the two countries can be divided into three sectors: the western, western Brunei Bay, and eastern sectors. The western border with Sarawak starts from the terminus of the land boundary and stretches seaward, following a set of five points to mark the boundary in the neighbourhood of Tanjong Baram. The western Brunei Bay sector consists of a boundary line in Brunei Bay, enclosing a stretch of Malaysian waters adjacent to the mouth of the Limbang River. The eastern border with Sarawak stretches seaward from the terminus of the eastern land border of Brunei's Temburong District, which is separated from the rest of the country by the Brunei Bay, to the Brunei-Sabah-Sarawak tripoint in the middle of the bay.

The land border between Malaysia and Brunei's Temburong District starts at the estuary of the Pandaruan River and runs the entire length of the river to its source. It then continues along the watershed between the Temburong River on one side and the Limbang and Trusan rivers on the other until it reaches Brunei Bay. The northern terminus of this boundary is located at the mouth of the Sungai Bangau.

The Brunei-Malaysia border is based on five historical agreements between the two countries, with the most recent agreement, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Process for the Joint Demarcation and Survey of the Land Boundary, signed in 2012. The process of demarcating the boundary is ongoing, with the target for completion by 2034.

In addition to sharing land borders, Brunei and Malaysia also have maritime borders in the South China Sea. Brunei has a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, which overlaps with Malaysia's claim in the area. However, a bilateral agreement between the two countries has resolved the overlapping claims over Brunei's territorial waters.

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