Geography of Paracel Islands

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.

Geographic coordinates: 16 30 N, 112 00 E

Area: total: NA sq km; land: NA sq km; water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 518 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: mostly low and flat

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources: none

Land use: arable land: 0%; permanent crops: 0%; other: 100% (2005)

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - note: composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group.