Paracel Islands facts for kids
The Paracel Islands are a group of small islands, atolls, and reefs in the South China Sea. They are mostly uninhabited, meaning no people live there permanently. These islands are about 330 kilometers (205 miles) from Hainan, a large island of China, and about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Vietnam.
| Disputed islands | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Paracel Islands | |
| Geography | |
| Location | South China Sea |
| Coordinates | 16°30′N 112°00′E / 16.500°N 112.000°E |
| Total islands | >30 |
| Major islands | Rocky Island, Tree Island, Woody Island |
| Area | 15,000 km² (ocean surface) |
| Coastline | 518 kilometres (322 mi) |
| Highest point | on Rocky Island 14 metres (46 ft) |
| Administered by | |
 People's Republic of China |
|
| Province | Hainan |
| Claimed by | |
 Viet Nam |
|
| Prefecture-level city | Da Nang |
 Republic of China |
|
| Municipality | Kaohsiung |
| Paracel Islands | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 西沙群島 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 西沙群岛 | ||||||||||
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| Vietnamese name | |||||||||||
| Vietnamese | Quần đảo Hoàng Sa | ||||||||||
| Hán-Nôm | 群島黃沙 | ||||||||||
Currently, the People's Republic of China controls the Paracel Islands. However, Taiwan and Vietnam also say these islands belong to them. This makes the Paracel Islands a "disputed territory."
Contents
Exploring the Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands are in the South China Sea. They are made up of more than 30 small islands, sandbanks, and reefs. The total area of the ocean surface around them is about 15,000 square kilometers (5,792 square miles).
The islands are roughly the same distance from the coasts of Vietnam and China. They are about 180 nautical miles (333 kilometers) southeast of Hainan Island. They are also about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines.
Wildlife and Nature
Even though people don't live there permanently, the islands are home to turtles. Many seabirds also visit the islands to build their nests. Over time, these birds have left behind large amounts of guano, which is bird droppings. Guano is often used as a fertilizer.
Island Groups and Climate
The Paracel Islands are divided into two main groups. The Amphitrite group is in the northeast, and the Crescent group is in the southwest. These two groups are about 70 kilometers (43 miles) apart.
The climate on the islands is hot and humid. They get a lot of rain and often experience strong storms called typhoons. The waters around the islands are rich with fish, making them good fishing grounds. There might also be oil and gas reserves under the sea near the islands.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Location of the Paracel Islands showing the more significant PRC settlements
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Aerial photo of the Crescent group
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Paracel Islands as shown in Zheng He Voyage Map (suggested by some to be the islands to the left at the bottom)
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Harbor developments between the Duncan Islands (December 2012)
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The Route through Quảng Nam map depicting Bãi Cát Vàng – the Golden Sandbank – off the coast of Quảng Nam, 1634
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Atlas produced by Belgian geographer Philippe Vandermaelen (1795-1869), published in 1827 in Belgium, showing Paracel Islands is a part of Vietnam
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The Royal Ordinance issued by Emperor Minh Mạng, 1835
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Đại Nam Thống Nhất Toàn Đồ – The Unified Đại Nam Complete Map (1838) - distinctly delineated Hoàng Sa and Vạn Lý Trường Sa at the far right margin
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1880 German map of Southeast Asia, locating the Paracel Islands as part of "Annam" (Vietnam)
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Imperial edict no. 10 of 29-02-Bảo Đại 13 (30 March 1938) transferring the Paracels from the Quảng Ngãi province to the Thừa Thiên province issued by the Bảo Đại Emperor as recorded in the Nam-Triều Quốc-Ngữ Công-Báo (南朝國語公報, "Bulletin of the Southern dynasty in the National Language") số 8 (1938). Referring to the islands as "sovereign" (chủ-quyền) territory of the South (nước Nam) since "long ago and under previous dynasties" (đã lâu đời và dưới các tiền triều).
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Decree no.174-NV from the presidency of Ngô Đình Diệm, Republic of Vietnam, redistricting the Paracels as part of Quảng Nam Province effective 07-13-1961. Paracels were previously part of Thừa Thiên–Huế Province since 03-30-1938, when redistricted by the government of French Indochina.
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Money Island
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Pattle Island
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Robert Island
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Antelope Reef
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Bombay Reef
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Bremen Bank
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Discovery Reef
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Iltis Bank
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Lincoln Island
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North Reef
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Passu Keah Reef
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Triton Island
_s%E1%BB%91_8_(1938)_-_D%C3%A2n_L%C3%A0m_B%C3%A1o.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Islas Paracel para niños
