From Wikisource
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Paracel Islands |
|
| Introduction |
Paracel Islands |
| Background: |
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 the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. |
| Geography |
Paracel Islands |
| 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 |
| Map references: |
Southeast Asia |
| Area: |
total: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: NA sq km |
| Area - comparative: |
NA |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
518 km |
| Maritime claims: |
NA |
| 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 |
| Natural resources: |
none |
| Land use: |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001) |
| Irrigated land: |
0 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural hazards: |
typhoons |
| Environment - current issues: |
NA |
| 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 (July 2004 est.) |
| Government |
Paracel Islands |
| Country name: |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
| Economy - overview: |
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
| Transportation |
Paracel Islands |
| Ports and harbors: |
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
| Airports: |
1 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military - note: |
occupied by China |
This page was last updated on 1 January 2003
This is a snapshot of the CIA World Fact Book as it existed on 26 March 2005
