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| Paracel Islands Main Page · World Factbook Main Page |
INTRODUCTION
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied all the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. China built a military installation on Woody Island with an airfield and artificial harbor. The islands also are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. |
GEOGRAPHY
Location: | |
| Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines | |
Geographic Coordinates: | |
| 16 30 N, 112 00 E | |
Area: | |
| Total: ca. 7.75 sq km Land: ca. 7.75 sq km Water: 0 sq km | |
Land Boundaries: | |
| 0 km | |
Coastline: | |
| 518 km (Rank: 105) | |
Climate: | |
| Tropical | |
Terrain: | |
| Mostly low and flat | |
Elevation Extremes: | |
| Lowest point: South China Sea 0 m Highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m | |
Land Use: | |
| Arable land: 0% Permanent crops: 0% Other: 100% (2005) | |
Irrigated Land: | |
| 0 sq km | |
Natural Hazards: | |
| Typhoons | |
Geography - Note: | |
| Composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group | |
Population: | |
| No indigenous inhabitants Note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons | |
Country Name: | |
| Conventional long form: none Conventional short form: Paracel Islands | |
Economy - Overview: | |
| The islands have the potential for oil and gas development. Waters around the islands support commercial fishing, but the islands themselves are not populated on a permanent basis. | |
Airports: | |
| 1 (2010) | |
Airports - With Paved Runways: | |
| Total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010) | |
Ports and Terminals: | |
| Small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island | |
Military - Note: | |
| Occupied by China | |
Disputes - International: | |
| Occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | |
| Paracel Islands Main Page | World Factbook Main Page |
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