Malacca

Malacca (Malay: Melaka), officially the Historic State of Malacca (Malay: Melaka Negeri Bersejarah), is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, facing the Strait of Malacca. The state is bordered by Negeri Sembilan to the north and west and Johor to the south and east. The exclave of Tanjung Tuan borders Negeri Sembilan to the north. Its capital is Malacca City, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside George Town in 2008. The state covers a gazetted land area of 1,746.60 km2 (674.37 sq mi) (174,660 hectares) distributed across 155 cadastral mukims. When incorporating statutory coastal waters out to 3 nautical miles (50,587.01 ha) and a 200-metre seaward baseline shift (2,814.57 ha), the state's total spatial planning envelope covers 228,061.58 hectares (2,280.62 km²). Situated immediately south of the Titiwangsa Mountains, Malacca is predominantly lowland plain, with Bukit Gapis (512 metres) serving as its highest point. Although Malacca was the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates, the Malacca Sultanate, the local monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state is the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or Governor, rather than a sultan. Malacca occupies a strategic position on international maritime routes along the Strait of Malacca, serving as an important center for manufacturing, maritime transport, and cultural tourism. The state's diverse population includes Malays, Chinese, Indians, Baba Nyonya, Kristang, Chitty, Temuan, and Eurasians.