Pedra Branca

Pedra Branca (meaning White Rock in {{ll|Portuguese}}, also known as Pulau Batu Putih in Malaysia) is a pile of rocks situated where the Straits of Johor meets the South China Sea, measuring at its longest, during low water spring tide, a mere 137 meters. It has a land area of 2,000 m².

Related Topics:
Malaysia - Straits of Johor - South China Sea

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It was recorded as early as 1583, by the Dutch voyager Johann van Linschoten, that Pedra Branca is where ships that come and go to and from China pass in great danger and some are left upon it. The rocks gets its name from years of accumulated bird droppings have which hardened upon the rock.

Related Topics:
1583 - Johann van Linschoten - China

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Between 1824 and 1851, at least 25 sizeable vessels met with disaster on those rocks. Even recently, from 2000 to 2004 there were 2 reports of ship collisions.

Related Topics:
1824 - 1851 - 2000 - 2004

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In 1851, the Horsburgh lighthouse was built and named after James Horsburgh, a Scottish Hydrographer to the East India Company who mapped the waters of the area.

Related Topics:
1851 - Horsburgh lighthouse

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