Geography of Spratly Islands

Location: Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines.

Geographic coordinates: 8 38 N, 111 55 E

Area: total: less than 5 sq km; land: less than 5 sq km; water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 926 km

Maritime claims: NA

Climate: tropical

Terrain: flat

Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Natural resources: fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

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

Irrigated land: 0 sq km

Natural hazards: typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Environment - current issues: NA

Geography - note: strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs.