Brunei's Location: A World Map Exploration

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the north and Malaysia to the south, east, and west. The country has a unique geographical feature, as it is divided into two non-contiguous territories separated by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, making it almost an enclave within Malaysia. With a total area of 5,765 square kilometres, Brunei is slightly larger than Trinidad and Tobago. Bandar Seri Begawan, located on the Brunei River, serves as the capital and largest city of the nation.

Brunei is located in southeastern Asia, on the island of Borneo

Brunei is situated in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres of the Earth. It has a 161 km (100 mi) coastline along the South China Sea and a 381 km (237 mi) border with Malaysia. The terrain of Brunei is mostly low-lying, with a flat coastal plain in the north that gradually slopes upwards to mountains in the east and undulating lowlands in the west. The country's highest point is Bukit Pagon, at 6,069 ft. (1,850 m), located along the border with Malaysia in the eastern mountainous region.

Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo, with the remainder of the island shared between Malaysia and Indonesia. The country has a diverse landscape, including rainforests, beaches and mountains. It has a tropical climate with high humidity and experiences two distinct seasons, separated by transitional phases, due to the shifting position of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) throughout the year.

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital and largest city of Brunei, with a population of approximately 180,000-455,858 people. The official language of Brunei is Malay, but English is also widely spoken, along with various indigenous and Chinese languages. The country has a rich cultural heritage influenced by its Malay, Chinese and Islamic history, and is known for its traditional arts and crafts, such as silat (a type of martial art), weaving and woodcarving.

It is bordered by the South China Sea to the north

Brunei is a small country located in Southeast Asia on the island of Borneo. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the north, which gives it a 161-kilometre (100-mile) coastline. The flat coastal plain of the country gradually slopes upwards to mountains in the east and undulating lowlands in the west. The capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan is among the many large towns and cities in Brunei that can be found on this coastline.

The South China Sea is an important maritime area for Brunei, as it is home to many of the country's large towns and cities, and it also shares maritime borders with China and Malaysia in this region. Brunei has a 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) that overlaps with China's nine-dash line, and it also claims a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea and a continental shelf. The country has asserted its maritime jurisdiction over these areas, including Louisa Reef, which is part of the Spratly Islands archipelago and also claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Brunei's economy is heavily dependent on exporting hydrocarbon resources, and the waters surrounding the country are rich in natural resources such as timber, natural gas, and petroleum. The country has extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, which have contributed significantly to its development and wealth. In fact, crude oil and natural gas production account for about 90% of Brunei's GDP, making it the fourth-largest producer of oil in Southeast Asia and the ninth-largest gas exporter in the world.

In addition to its economic significance, the South China Sea also plays a role in Brunei's defence and security. The country has a bilateral mechanism for conflict resolution that adheres to the 1982 UN Convention for the Law of the Sea. It also values the ASEAN-China code of conduct in addressing challenges in the region. Brunei seeks to work cooperatively with other states to secure maritime traffic and address unresolved boundaries, growing naval capabilities, and major-power competition.

Malaysia borders Brunei to the south, east and west

The Southeast Asian country of Brunei is located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, in the North and East hemispheres of the Earth. It is bordered by the South China Sea to the north and Malaysia to the south, east, and west. The Malaysian state of Sarawak surrounds Brunei on all sides except for its northwest coastline. The Brunei-Malaysia border consists of a 528.45-km land border and maritime borders stretching from the coastline of the two countries to the edge of the continental shelf in the South China Sea.

Brunei is officially known as Brunei Darussalam and is a longstanding sultanate. It is divided into two non-contiguous territories in northern Borneo, bisected by Malaysian territory. The larger western part of Brunei comprises the Belait, Tutong, and Brunei-Muara districts, while the smaller eastern part is the Temburong District, separated from the rest of the country by the Malaysian State of Sarawak and Brunei Bay.

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

The larger borderline between Brunei and Malaysia begins in the west at the mouth of the Sungai Belait and runs southeast before turning northeast toward Brunei Bay. This border has a total length of 302 kilometers. The two countries also share a maritime boundary.

While the methods for determining the boundary between Brunei and Malaysia have been agreed upon, a conflict remains over the Limbang River Valley, an area of Sarawak that divides Brunei's two territories. This dispute has been a source of tension between the two states but has lessened in recent years as they collaborate to negotiate their frontiers.

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital city of Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan, often abbreviated to BSB, is the capital and largest city of Brunei. It is located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia and is bordered by the South China Sea to the north and Malaysia to the south, east and west. Bandar Seri Begawan is the country's largest urban centre and only city, with a population of around 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of the Brunei-Muara District, the smallest yet most populous district in the country, home to over 70% of the country's population.

Bandar Seri Begawan is home to the seat of the Bruneian government, as well as being a commercial and cultural hub. It was formerly known as Brunei Town until it was renamed in 1970 to honour Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and father of the current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah. The city is located on the northern bank of the Brunei River, near its mouth on Brunei Bay, and is known for its stilt houses and wooden walkways. It is home to Istana Nurul Iman, the largest residential palace in the world, as well as the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

Bandar Seri Begawan has an equatorial, tropical rainforest climate, with heavy precipitation throughout the year. The city experiences two monsoon seasons: the northeast monsoon, which blows from December to March, and the southeast monsoon, which occurs from around June to October.

The economy of Bandar Seri Begawan includes the production of furniture, textiles, handicrafts and timber. The city is also a hub for international travel, with its airport offering connections to Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Brunei is divided into two non-contiguous territories

Brunei is a small country covering 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. The country is divided into two non-contiguous territories, separated by the Malaysian State of Sarawak.

The western part of Brunei, which includes the districts of Belait, Tutong, and Brunei-Muara, is the larger of the two territories and is home to about 97% of the country's population. This area is the centre of the country's oil and gas industry, with the towns of Seria and Kuala Belait being major oil-producing towns. The western territory also includes the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, where about two-thirds of the country's population resides. The landscape of this region is characterised by flat coastal plains that gradually slope upwards to mountains in the east and undulating lowlands in the west.

The eastern part of Brunei, known as the Temburong District, is much smaller and is separated from the western territory by the Brunei Bay and the Malaysian State of Sarawak. This region is mountainous and has a much smaller population of around 10,000 people. The Pandaruan River forms part of the natural border between the two territories, flowing from the eastern Temburong District into the western part of the country.

The division of Brunei into two non-contiguous territories is a result of historical annexations by Sarawak, particularly the annexation of the Limbang district in 1890. This division has left Brunei with its current small land mass, and the two territories are connected by a new 30-km roadway that crosses the Brunei Bay, which opened to traffic in 2020.

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