Top banner
The World Factbook Banner

         
  Paracel Islands  
Categories Banner
 Introduction
 Geography
 People
 Government
 Economy
 Communications
 Transportation
 Military
 Transnational Issues

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


Map of Paracel Islands



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Paracel Islands Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
518 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
mostly low and flat
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
typhoons
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group
   People    Paracel Islands Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
   Government    Paracel Islands Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands
   Economy    Paracel Islands Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

   Transportation    Paracel Islands Top of Page
Ports and harbors:
Definition Field Listing
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
   Military    Paracel Islands Top of Page
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
occupied by China
   Transnational Issues    Paracel Islands Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005


Bottom Banner