geography of the special region in China
Macau is a Special Administrative Region on the southern coast of China. It is located at the south of Guangdong Province, on the tip of the peninsula formed by the Zhujiang (Pearl River) estuary on the east and the Xijiang (West River) on the west. Macau is situated 60km (37mi) west of Hong Kong, and 145km (90mi) southwest of Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province. It is situated immediately east and south of Zhuhai.
The region comprises the Macau Peninsula and the islands of Taipa and Coloane. Macau was once an island but gradually a connecting sandbar turned into a narrow isthmus. Land reclamation in the 17th century made Macau into a peninsula, and a barrier gate was built to mark the separation between the peninsula and the mainland. Pre-colonial records show that Macau totalled only 2.78km2 (1.07sqmi) but began to increase as a result of Portuguese settlement. Land growth has accelerated since the last quarter of the 20th century, from 15km2 (5.8sqmi) in 1972 to 16.1km2 (6.22sqmi) in 1983 to 21.3km2 (8.22sqmi) in 1994. Macau's size has gradually increased as result of continued land reclamation, especially on Taipa and Coloane. In 2014, the total land area was approximately 30.3km2 (11.7sqmi).
There is a 0.34km (0.21mi) long border between Macau and mainland China and a forty-kilometre-long coastline. The main border crossing between Macau and China is the Portas do Cerco (Barrier Gate) Frontier Checkpoint on the Macau side, and the Gongbei checkpoint on the Chinese side.
Geographic coordinates: 2210N 11333E / 22.167N 113.550E / 22.167; 113.550
Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China
Terrain: generally flatElevation extremes:lowest point: South China Sea 0 mhighest point: Coloane Alto 172m (564ft)
Macau has generally flat terrain resulting from extensive land reclamation, but numerous steep hills mark the original natural land mass. The modern high-rise skyline of Macau obscures much of the hilly landscape. The Macau skyline both defines and obscures its topography.
The Macau Peninsula is narrow in shape but varies in terrain.
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Although Macau is located in the tropics, it has a humid subtropical climate (Kppen climate classification Cwa), because the Siberian pressure system in the winter pushes cool air further south than similar semipermanent permanent high pressure systems. Its average year-round temperature is 22.7C (72.9F). Summers are very hot and humid: the July average temperature is 28.9C (84.0F) and the highest daytime temperature could reach 35C (95F). However, the heat is generally less intense than many places in mainland China due to the coastal location. Winters are short and mild: the January average is 15.0C (59.0F) and the lowest temperature could drop to 5C (41F), but very rarely any lower. There is about 2,120 millimetres (83in) of rainfall annually, with drier winters.
Macau is exposed to tropical storms originating from the southern Pacific Ocean during the summer. Major destruction occurred in September 1874, when a devastating typhoon hit Macau and high seas swept across the low-lying area of the peninsula. There are always a few tropical storm occurrences in Macau each year (typically between May to October), although they vary in strengths. When they occur, they usually bring strong winds, rainfall and lower temperatures.
Prevailing winds and weather types change follow the monsoon pattern. It is warm and moist when the southeast and southwest winds are coming from the Pacific Ocean, and typhoons are relatively common during summertime. It is dry and slightly cold when the north winds are coming from Siberia or the northern part of Mainland China.
During the transition period from northeast monsoon to southwest monsoon (March and April), the weather is moist and foggy. It is Macau's spring season. Summer is from May to September, when the southeast and southwest monsoon prevailing. It is rather hot and rainy. The weather in autumn (the end of September and October) is sunny and warm, when the southwest monsoon withdrawing gradually and the northeast monsoon advancing south. It is generally regarded as the most comfortable season there. Winter is from November to February next year, when the northeast monsoon prevailing. It is mainly dry, with occasional cold fronts arriving.
There are moderate to high levels of humidity year-round, with an annual average of 79.3%. Annual sunshine totals are moderate, at more than 1800 hours.
Negligible. In the past, large amounts of granite were extracted from Macau's hills for use as building material.
Relying on water supply from the Xijiang River, in 2006 Macau suffered its worse crisis of salinity in freshwater during the dry season, which takes place in late winter and early spring.[4]To address salinity issues, as of 2018 three water supply pipelines to Macau have been built and a fourth pipeline was planned for completion in 2019.[5]
Until early 20th century, the Macau peninsula was dotted with small farms on its northern area, beyond the walls protecting the city. Currently, in the Macau peninsula, no arable land, natural pastures or woodland exists and forests have been cleared and plant species have been subjected to profound changes. Coloane on the other hand, due to its later colonisation, still has its forests and is dotted with small farms, namely around the Coloane, Hac Sa and Ka Ho villages.
arable land: 0%permanent crops: 0%other: 100% (2011)
In 2010 plans were announced for an additional 3.5 square kilometres of land reclamation in Macau, to be carried out over five years and divided into six phases. These areas cover an area east of the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, an area south of Avenida Sun Yat Sen, and the north side of Taipa Island.[6]
The change of total area of Macau (in km square) since the year of 1912:
Dense urban environment.
Geography note: essentially urban; three bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland, and an isthmus connects Coloane and Taipa.
Read more here:
Geography of Macau - Wikipedia
- The Greatest Showman: The Life And Times Of Stanley Ho - Tatler Hong Kong [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2020]
- Russian nuclear sub city closes access over virus - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2020]
- Special guest Walt Power to discuss the five false paradigms of the Macau gaming industry in GAME3 tonight - Inside Asian Gaming [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2020]
- Professor: too early to predict impact of US-China tensions over Hong Kong on Macau gaming industry - Inside Asian Gaming [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2020]
- Something is wrong when Macau bars mention of Tiananmen Square massacre - Hong Kong Free Press [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2020]
- Macau | History, Geography, & Map | Britannica [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2020]
- Macau - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: June 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 5th, 2020]
- Macau as the world's sixth priciest housing market - Research - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- Groups call for changes to HK and Macau law - [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- Collapse in Gambling Totally Crushes Macau's Overall Economy - WOLF STREET [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- SUEZ and University of Macau Partner on Research Innovation, Reaffirm Commitment to Marine Protection - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- Macau | Hetalia Archives | Fandom [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- History of Macau - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- Macau International Travel Information [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- More than 8 million Italians tune in as football returns - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- Chinese police bust massive illegal gambling op with ties to Macau - CalvinAyre.com [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- OPINION - The gilded cage - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2020]
- 6-year-old boy dies in Indian Kashmir crossfire - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- 580 civilians killed this year in central Mail: UN - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- Putin reform referendum reveals Russian generation gap - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- Tensions flare over virus-hit 'ghetto' in southern Italy - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- Taiwan allow international travellers to transit through the island - Macau News [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- EU split on reopening Europe to countries with virus - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- Philippines repatriated more than 360 workers in Macau and provided assistance to over 2,000 - Macau Business [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- Macau Chief Executive calls on gaming operators to stay patient with good news on border restrictions to come - Inside Asian Gaming [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- Hong Kong denies reports Macau to be frozen out of travel bubble as Taiwan eases border restrictions - Inside Asian Gaming [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2020]
- World Views | ByteDance is playing chicken with Trump on TikTok - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- US charges citizen with providing support to IS - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Fashion festival to be themed Green Sustainability - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Youth space for 'education of love for the motherland' due to open in December - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Macau Racing Tips: The Honan 1510 Metres Sand 2020-09-19 | Sat | 14:00 - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Visitation on the rise in September but Macau recovery slower than other jurisdictions - Inside Asian Gaming [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- CCAC says officials who granted loans to Viva Macau 'failed in their duties' - Macau News [Last Updated On: September 18th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2020]
- Briefs | Qingmao port expected to open in 2h of 2021 - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Sheldon G. Adelson | The man who successfully turned his vision for Cotai to reality - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Retiree duped out of nearly RM1mil in Macau scam - The Star Online [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- Wynn Resorts reports 59% Q4 revenue drop; huge losses in Macau - Gambling Insider - In-depth Analysis for the Gaming Industry [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2021]
- US in tug-of-war with teachers over reopening schools - Macau Business [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- US shooting survivor starts pillow fight with pro-Trump businessman - Macau Business [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- City adds Gaodong Town to the list of zones requiring quarantine - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- Covid-19 | Vaccination for all residents kicks off on February 22 - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- Rise in number of new companies in Q4 2020 - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- University calls for promotion of mental health services - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- Gaming | Bernstein projects weaker revenue in first week of Feb - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- USA | What to Watch: Democrats to argue Trump alone incited mob - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- Explainer | What the WHO coronavirus experts learned in Wuhan - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- South extension project of airport to be completed in Q4 - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- CE New Year Message: Accelerate economic diversification to speed post-pandemic recovery - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- Pandemic control and economic recovery efforts to continue in the Year of the Ox - CE - Macau Business [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2021] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2021]
- The Maldives, a honeymoon haven in peril - Macau Business [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2021]
- Honduras police unearth 1.5 tons of buried cocaine - Macau Business [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2021]
- In US, children return to school -- but so do the guns - Macau Business [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2021]
- DFS Group and L'Oral Travel Retail plan beauty innovation drive with joint projects in Hainan and Macau - The Moodie Davitt Report - The Moodie Davitt... [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2021]
- WHO warns of new Covid wave in Africa - Macau Business [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2021]
- Chinas criticism of HK legal luminary a warning for lawyers in the two SARs - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2021]
- April Was Good to Macau, as Casinos Record Highest Total in More Than a Year - GamblingNews.com [Last Updated On: May 7th, 2021] [Originally Added On: May 7th, 2021]
- Covid-19 | All 29 dance group members and tour guide tested negative - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2021]
- Macau Racing Tips | The Rua Cinco Outubro 1600 Metres Sand 2021-08-06 | Fri | 21:25 - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2021]
- Macau's operator SJM sees revenues, earnings up in H1 driven by 'cautious' tourism return - Yogonet International [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2021]
- Macau begins COVID-19 tests and shuts some entertainment venues, casino stocks fall - Reuters [Last Updated On: August 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 6th, 2021]
- Covid-19 | Footprint records on health code soon to become reality - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- Crime increased 26% during the first half of 2021 - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- 19-year-old student loses RM37,000 in Macau scam - The Star Online [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- GGRAsia Some non-gaming at Macau resorts still shut as of Thurs - GGRAsia [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2021]
- Five killed in DR Congo as alleged rapist resists arrest - Macau Business [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Al Capone's guns to go under the hammer in US auction - Macau Business [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Brunei reports first virus deaths in over a year - Macau Business [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- US ramps up Afghan evacuations after Taliban warn of 'red line' - Macau Business [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2021]
- Mexican teen boxer dies of injuries suffered in ring - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2021]
- Chinese premier stresses achieving harmony between humanity and nature - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2021]
- Health Bureau warns of mental health risks in young residents - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2021]
- Macau's GGR Drops in August, but Recovery Could Be Coming - GamblingNews.com [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2021]
- Macau GGR dips from July to August ahead of easing of testing rules | Finance - iGaming Business [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2021]
- What do red socks have to do with Germany's election? - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- The Buzz | WHO reports big drop in new coronavirus infections - Macau Daily Times [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Macau: Legislative election turnout at historic low after opposition barred from running, govt blames weather and Covid - Hong Kong Free Press [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Macau Casino Traffic Surges: Is the Worst Over for the Industry? - Yahoo Finance [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Billions blown as Macau casino investors fold amid gambling review - Reuters [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2021]
- Los Angeles bids to host games of 2026 World Cup - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2021]
- Major fire at migrant camp on Greek island of Samos - Macau Business [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2021] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2021]