Paracel Islands Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Paracel Islands
Disputed islands

Paracel Islands
Geography
Location	South China Sea
Coordinates	16°30′N 112°00′E / 16.500°N 112.000°E / 16.500; 112.000
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

Chinese name

Traditional Chinese

西沙群島

Simplified Chinese

西沙群岛

Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin	Xīshā Qúndǎo
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping	sai¹saa¹ kwan⁴dou²

Vietnamese name

Vietnamese

Quần đảo Hoàng Sa

Hán-Nôm

群島黃沙

The location of the Paracel and Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

Paracel Islands is the name for a number of uninhabited atolls and reefs in the South China Sea. They are about 330 kilometres (210 mi) from Hainan and about 400 kilometres (250 mi) from Vietnam. Currently they are under the control of the People's Republic of China, but Taiwan and Vietnam also claim them. The islands are uninhabited.

The islands are located in the South China Sea consisting of over 30 islets, sandbanks and reefs with about 15,000 square kilometres (5,800 sq mi) of the ocean surface. The archipelago is approximately equidistant from the coastlines of Vietnam and China, 180 nautical miles (330 km; 210 mi) southeast of Hainan Island, and about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines. Turtles live on the islands, and seabirds have left nests and guano deposits, but there are no permanent human residents except military personnel and fishermen.

The islands are divided into two main groups. The Amphitrite group is in the northeast and the Crescent group is in the southwest, and they are located about 70 km (43 mi) from one another. Subject to hot and humid climate, with abundant rainfall and frequent typhoons, the archipelago is surrounded by productive fishing grounds and potential oil and gas reserves.

Sansha

Images for kids

Location of the Paracel Islands showing the more significant PRC settlements
Aerial photo of the Crescent group
Paracel Islands as shown in Zheng He Voyage Map (suggested by some to be the islands to the left at the bottom)
Harbor developments between the Duncan Islands (December 2012)
The Route through Quảng Nam map depicting Bãi Cát Vàng – the Golden Sandbank – off the coast of Quảng Nam, 1634
Atlas produced by Belgian geographer Philippe Vandermaelen (1795-1869), published in 1827 in Belgium, showing Paracel Islands is a part of Vietnam
The Royal Ordinance issued by Emperor Minh Mạng, 1835
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
1880 German map of Southeast Asia, locating the Paracel Islands as part of "Annam" (Vietnam)
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).
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.
Money Island
Pattle Island
Robert Island
Antelope Reef
Bombay Reef
Bremen Bank
Discovery Reef
Iltis Bank
Lincoln Island
North Reef
Passu Keah Reef
Triton Island

Paracel Islands facts for kids

Related pages

Images for kids

See also