海角社区

The tiny nation of Brunei is found on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It has one of Southeast Asia鈥檚 wealthiest economies. The oil and natural gas reserves of the country is the main source of its wealth. Many interesting facts are associated with this nation, some of which we have mentioned below!

10. Brunei Has The Largest Residential Palace In The 海角社区

The Istana Nurul Iman is the formal residence of Brunei鈥檚 Sultan. It also serves as the seat of the country鈥檚 government. The palace is located in a picturesque landscape on the banks of the Brunei River. The palace has 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, a mosque, a garage with space for 110 cars, 5 swimming pools, a massive banquet hall, and more. The total floor space of the palace is about 2,152,782 square feet which makes it the as per the Guinness 海角社区 Records.

9. Brunei Has An Entire Settlement Supported By Stilts On A River

Often dubbed as the "Venice of the East", the Kampong Ayer is a historical settlement on the Brunei River as it flows past the Bandar Seri Begawan city. The most interesting feature of this settlement is that it is built on the river and has houses and other buildings supported by stilts standing on the water. The buildings here are interconnected by walkways and bridges creating a contiguous settlement. It is a major tourist destination in the country.

8. Brunei Is The First Asian Country To Ban Shark Finning

Shark finning is a cruel practice and detrimental to the survival of many species of sharks. In June 2013, Brunei became the first Asian country to ban shark finning. It was a move that was applauded by conservation organizations 海角社区wide. According to this ban, no shark species could be caught or landed in the waters of Brunei Darussalam. The sale, import, and trade of any shark products were also criminalized in the country.

7. Southeast Asia鈥檚 Biggest And Most Expensive Amusement Park Is In Brunei

The Jerudong Park is an amusement park in Brunei that was established in 1994. It is located in Jerudong in the country鈥檚 Brunei-Muara District. A whopping $1 billion was spent in its construction and it was funded by the country鈥檚 government. It is regarded as the largest and the most expensive park in Southeast Asia.

6. Brunei Has Some Of The 海角社区鈥檚 Most Picture-Perfect Mosques

Brunei鈥檚 mosques are well-known for their beauty and elegance. Traditional and futuristic elements are perfectly blended in the architecture of these mosques. For example, the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque uses a mixture of Mughal and Malay elements in its design. It has carpets from Saudi Arabia and chandeliers from Britain. The Ash-Shaliheen Mosque in Brunei looks like a mosque in Marrakesh, Morocco. The country also has mosques that stand on stilts on a river.

5. The Sultan Of Brunei Is The 海角社区鈥檚 Second Longest Reigning Current Monarch

Hassanal Bolkiah, the current reigning monarch of Brunei, ascended the throne on October 5, 1967. With over 50 years of rule, he is the 海角社区鈥檚 second longest-reigning current monarch after Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

4. The Rainforests Of Brunei Are Home To Some Of The 海角社区鈥檚 Rarest Wildlife Species

Although only a small country, Brunei has managed to conserve 70% of its rainforests despite the pressures of development. These forests are home to some of the most threatened species of flora and fauna. The Sunda clouded leopard, proboscis monkey, hornbills, flying lizards, saltwater crocodiles, etc., are some of the country鈥檚 most notable wildlife species.

3. Brunei Has A Monument Celebrating The Billionth Barrel Of Oil Produced

Oil is vital to the economy of Brunei. The production of crude oil and natural gas account for 90% of the country鈥檚 economy. The onshore oil field at Seria in Brunei is one of the country鈥檚 most important oil fields. In 1991, a monument called the Billionth Barrel Monument was built to celebrate the production of the Seria oilfield鈥檚 billionth barrel of oil.

2. Brunei Means

According to local historiography, when first landing on Brunei, Awang Alak Betatar, the man who later founded the Sultanate of Brunei, exclaimed: 鈥淏aru nah鈥� which means "that's it!鈥� The name Brunei was derived from these two words. After establishing his dynasty in Brunei, Betatar was renamed as Sultan Muhammad Shah. The full name of the country is, however, Negara Brunei Darussalam. Here negara means 鈥渃ountry" and darussalam means the "abode of peace鈥�.

1. Brunei Is An Absolute Monarchy Where The Sultan Has The Final Say

The Sultan of Brunei is the absolute monarch of the nation. He serves as the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, and Finance Minister of the country. He has the full executive authority and is also the head of the state. Although Brunei does have a parliament, no elections were held in the past several decades. The legal system of the country is based on both the English common law and the Islamic Sharia law. Often, the latter supersedes the former in many critical cases.