Paracel Islands (2006) | Bassas da India (2006) | |
Airports | 1 (2006) | - |
Airports - with paved runways | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006) |
- |
Area | total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km water: 0 sq km |
total: 0.2 sq km
land: 0.2 sq km water: 0 sq km |
Area - comparative | NA | about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington, DC |
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. | This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of an Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. |
Climate | tropical | tropical |
Coastline | 518 km | 35.2 km |
Country name | conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands |
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India |
Dependency status | - | possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands |
Disputes - international | occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam | claimed by Madagascar |
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 2.4 m |
Environment - current issues | NA | NA |
Flag description | - | the flag of France is used |
Geographic coordinates | 16 30 N, 112 00 E | 21 30 S, 39 50 E |
Geography - note | composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group | the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano |
Irrigated land | 0 sq km | 0 sq km |
Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (all rock) (2005) |
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, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique |
Map references | Southeast Asia | Africa |
Maritime claims | NA | territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
Military - note | occupied by China | defense is the responsibility of France |
Natural hazards | typhoons | maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones |
Natural resources | none | none |
Population | no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons |
uninhabited (July 2006 est.) |
Terrain | mostly low and flat | volcanic rock |