2005 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2005 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Airports
1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
- total
- 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) Military Paracel Islands
Area
- land
- NA sq km
- total
- NA sq km
- water
- 0 sq km
Area - comparative
NA
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
Climate
tropical
Coastline
518 km
Country name
- conventional long form
- none
- conventional short form
- Paracel Islands Economy Paracel Islands
Disputes - international
occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================
Economy - overview
China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. Transportation Paracel Islands
Elevation extremes
- highest point
- unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m
- lowest point
- South China Sea 0 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Geographic coordinates
16 30 N, 112 00 E
Geography - note
composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group People Paracel Islands
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
- arable land
- 0%
- other
- 100% (2001)
- permanent crops
- 0%
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
Map references
Southeast Asia
Maritime claims
NA
Military - note
occupied by China Transnational Issues Paracel Islands
Natural hazards
typhoons
Natural resources
none
Population
no indigenous inhabitants note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons Government Paracel Islands
Ports and harbors
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded
Terrain
mostly low and flat