Macau Peninsula


The Macau Peninsula is the most populous and historic part of Macau. It has an area of and is geographically connected to Guangdong province at the northeast through an isthmus wide. The peninsula, together with downtown Zhuhai, sits on an island separated from the continent by distributaries of the Pearl River. The Border Gate was built on the northern isthmus. At the south, the peninsula is connected to Taipa Island by three bridges, the Friendship Bridge ; the Macau-Taipa Bridge ; and the Sai Van Bridge. The longest axis extends from the Border Gate to the southwestern edge, Barra. There is a western "Inner Harbor" paralleled by an "Outer Harbor" to the east. The Guia Hill is the highest point on the peninsula, which has an average elevation of. Many coastal places are reclaimed from the sea. The Historic Center of Macau, which is entirely on the Macau Peninsula, became a World Heritage Site in 2005.

Freguesias

The peninsula corresponds to the historical Municipality of Macau, one of Macau's two municipalities that were abolished on 31 December 2001 by Law No. 17/2001, following the 1999 transfer of sovereignty over Macau from Portugal to China. This municipality was divided into five parishes, and while their administrative functions have since been voided, these parishes are still retained nominally.