Europa Island (2001) | Paracel Islands (2003) | |
![]() | ![]() | |
Airports | 1 (2000 est.) | 1 (2002) |
Airports - with paved runways | - | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
Airports - with unpaved runways | total:
1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
- |
Area | total:
28 sq km land: 28 sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC | NA |
Background | A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station. | 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. |
Climate | tropical | tropical |
Coastline | 22.2 km | 518 km |
Country name | conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Europa Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Europa |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
Dependency status | possession of France; administered by a high commissioner of the Republic, resident in Reunion | - |
Disputes - international | claimed by Madagascar | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam |
Economy - overview | no economic activity | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. |
Elevation extremes | lowest point:
Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: unnamed location 24 m |
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | the flag of France is used | - |
Geographic coordinates | 22 20 S, 40 22 E | 16 30 N, 112 00 E |
Geography - note | wildlife sanctuary | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1993) | 0 sq km (1998 est.) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land:
0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 100% other: 0% |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
Legal system | the laws of France, where applicable, apply | - |
Location | Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from southern Madagascar to southern Mozambique | 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 |
Map references | Africa | Southeast Asia |
Maritime claims | exclusive economic zone:
200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
NA |
Military - note | defense is the responsibility of France | occupied by China |
Natural hazards | NA | typhoons |
Natural resources | NEGL | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison (July 2001 est.) |
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2003 est.) |
Ports and harbors | none; offshore anchorage only | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded |
Terrain | low and flat | mostly low and flat |
Waterways | none | none |