Paracel Islands (2002) | Tromelin Island (2005) | |
Airports | 1 (2001) | 1 (2004 est.) |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
- |
Airports - with unpaved runways | - | total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
Area | total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 1 sq km
land: 1 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | NA | about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
Background | This archipelago is 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 Vietnam and Taiwan. | First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station. |
Climate | tropical | tropical |
Coastline | 518 km | 3.7 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island local long form: none local short form: Ile Tromelin |
Dependency status | - | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands |
Disputes - international | occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | claimed by Mauritius |
Economy - overview | China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. | no economic activity |
Elevation extremes | lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m |
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | - | the flag of France is used |
Geographic coordinates | 16 30 N, 112 00 E | 15 52 S, 54 25 E |
Geography - note | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group | climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises) |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km (1998 est.) | 0 sq km (1998 est.) |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (1998 est.) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2001) |
Legal system | - | the laws of France, where applicable, apply |
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 | Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Africa |
Maritime claims | NA | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation |
Military - note | occupied by China | defense is the responsibility of France |
Natural hazards | typhoons | NA |
Natural resources | none | fish |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons (July 2002 est.) |
uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2005 est.) |
Ports and harbors | small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded | none; offshore anchorage only |
Terrain | mostly low and flat | low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic |
Waterways | none | - |