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
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline: Climate: Terrain: Elevation extremes:
Natural resources: Land use:
Irrigated land: Natural hazards: Environment - current issues: Geography - note:
total:
less than 5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 248
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 (158,000 sq mi) of the central South China Sea
[see also: Land boundaries country ranks ]
926 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]
tropical
flat
lowest point:
South China Sea 0 m
highest point:
unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential
arable land:
0%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
100% (2011)
5,700 sq km (2006)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard
NA
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs