Macclesfield Bank: Difference between revisions
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Wtmitchell (talk | contribs) {{fv}}. Mentions Macclesfield Bank but does not assert a claim by Vietnam. |
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The broken coral reef rim of Macclesfield Bank, with a width of up to {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}}, has depths of {{convert|11.8|m|0|abbr=on}} at Pygmy Shoal on the northeast end of the bank and depths of 11.6 to {{convert|18|m|0|abbr=on}} elsewhere. Within the lagoon, Walker Shoal marks the least known depth of 9.2 metres. In general, the central lagoon is very deep, with depths up to 100 metres.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> |
The broken coral reef rim of Macclesfield Bank, with a width of up to {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}}, has depths of {{convert|11.8|m|0|abbr=on}} at Pygmy Shoal on the northeast end of the bank and depths of 11.6 to {{convert|18|m|0|abbr=on}} elsewhere. Within the lagoon, Walker Shoal marks the least known depth of 9.2 metres. In general, the central lagoon is very deep, with depths up to 100 metres.<ref name=autogenerated1 /> |
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Macclesfield Bank is claimed, in whole or in part, by the [[China|People's Republic of China]],<ref name="NYTarticle">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/world/asia/china-criticizes-vietnam-in-dispute-over-islands.html?_r=1|date=June 21, 2012|accessdate=June 28, 2012|title=Vietnam Law on Contested Islands Draws China’s Ire|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Taiwan|Republic of China (Taiwan)]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&TNo=&ID=201205010041|date=May 5, 2012|accessdate=June 28, 2012|title=Taiwan renews sovereignty claim over South China Sea islands|newspaper=Focus Taiwan}}</ref><ref name="USStateDept">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/57674.pdf|date=November 15, 2005|accessdate=July 1, 2012|title=Limits in the Seas - No. 127 Taiwan's Maritime Claims|publisher=United States Department of State}}</ref> the [[Philippines]],<ref name="USStateDept" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/41229/chinese-ship-rams-philippine-fish-boat-1-dead|date=June 25, 2012|accessdate=June 28, 2012|title=Chinese ship rams Philippine fish boat; 1 dead|newspaper=Inquirer.net}}</ref> {{better source|date=July 2012}} and [[Vietnam]].<ref name="NYTarticle" /><ref name="USStateDept" /> It is located east of the [[Paracel Islands]], distantly southwest of the [[Pratas Islands]] and north of the [[Spratly Islands]]. |
Macclesfield Bank is claimed, in whole or in part, by the [[China|People's Republic of China]],<ref name="NYTarticle">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/world/asia/china-criticizes-vietnam-in-dispute-over-islands.html?_r=1|date=June 21, 2012|accessdate=June 28, 2012|title=Vietnam Law on Contested Islands Draws China’s Ire|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Taiwan|Republic of China (Taiwan)]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&TNo=&ID=201205010041|date=May 5, 2012|accessdate=June 28, 2012|title=Taiwan renews sovereignty claim over South China Sea islands|newspaper=Focus Taiwan}}</ref><ref name="USStateDept">{{cite web|url=http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/57674.pdf|date=November 15, 2005|accessdate=July 1, 2012|title=Limits in the Seas - No. 127 Taiwan's Maritime Claims|publisher=United States Department of State}}</ref> the [[Philippines]],<ref name="USStateDept" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://globalnation.inquirer.net/41229/chinese-ship-rams-philippine-fish-boat-1-dead|date=June 25, 2012|accessdate=June 28, 2012|title=Chinese ship rams Philippine fish boat; 1 dead|newspaper=Inquirer.net}}</ref> {{better source|date=July 2012}} and [[Vietnam]].<ref name="NYTarticle" />{{fv|date=July 2012}}<ref name="USStateDept" /> It is located east of the [[Paracel Islands]], distantly southwest of the [[Pratas Islands]] and north of the [[Spratly Islands]]. |
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There are no military stations there. It is a rich fishing ground and difficult to navigate due to the shallow submerged reefs. |
There are no military stations there. It is a rich fishing ground and difficult to navigate due to the shallow submerged reefs. |
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Revision as of 08:22, 2 July 2012
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| Other names | Zhongsha Islands |
|---|---|
| Geography | |
| Location | South China Sea |
| Coordinates | 16°00′N 114°30′E / 16.000°N 114.500°E |
| Administration | |
none | |
| Demographics | |
| Population | none |
Template:Contains Chinese text
Macclesfield Bank, also called Zhongsha Islands (Chinese: 中沙群島; pinyin: Zhōngshā Qúndǎo; lit. 'Central Sands Islands'), is an elongated sunken atoll of underwater reefs and shoals in the South China Sea and part of the disputed South China Sea Islands, centred around 16°00′N 114°30′E / 16.000°N 114.500°E, east of the Paracel Islands. Its length exceeds 130 km (81 mi) southwest-northeast, with a maximal width of more than 70 km (43 mi). With an area of 6,448 km2 (2,490 sq mi) within the outer rim of the reef,[2] although completely submerged without any emergent cays or islets, it is one of the largest atolls of the world.
The broken coral reef rim of Macclesfield Bank, with a width of up to 8 km (5 mi), has depths of 11.8 m (39 ft) at Pygmy Shoal on the northeast end of the bank and depths of 11.6 to 18 m (59 ft) elsewhere. Within the lagoon, Walker Shoal marks the least known depth of 9.2 metres. In general, the central lagoon is very deep, with depths up to 100 metres.[2]
Macclesfield Bank is claimed, in whole or in part, by the People's Republic of China,[3] Republic of China (Taiwan),[4][5] the Philippines,[5][6] [better source needed] and Vietnam.[3][failed verification][5] It is located east of the Paracel Islands, distantly southwest of the Pratas Islands and north of the Spratly Islands.
There are no military stations there. It is a rich fishing ground and difficult to navigate due to the shallow submerged reefs.
Geography
The elongated atoll consists of:
The definition of Zhongsha Islands
The PRC's term Zhongsha Islands for the Macclesfield Bank has a wider meaning than the geographic feature or atoll; it includes some geographically separate features: -
To the east, near the Philippines are:
- Scarborough Shoal (Nanyan Dao 南巖島 or Huangyan Dao 黃岩島; 15°11′N 117°46′E / 15.183°N 117.767°E)
- Truro Shoal (Sianfa Ansha or Shianfa Ansha 特魯暗沙; 16°20′N 116°44′E / 16.333°N 116.733°E)
Far to the north are:
- Helen Shoal (Itung Ansha or Yitong Ansha 一統暗沙; 19°12′N 113°53′E / 19.200°N 113.883°E) - It is a few kilometers south of Hong Kong.
- Stewart Shoal (Ssu-ti-wa-erh-t'e Ansha 管事暗灘; 17°20′N 118°50′E / 17.333°N 118.833°E)
- Huangyan Seamount (黃岩海山)
- Shixing Seamount (石星海山)
- Xianbei Seamount (憲北海山)
- Xiannan Seamount (憲南海山)
- Zhangzhong Seamount (漲中海山)
- Zhenbei Seamount (珍貝海山)
To the south, near the Spratly Islands, are:
- Dreyer Shoal (Zhongnan Ansha, 中南暗沙)
- Zhongnan Seamount (中南海山)
- Longnan Seamount (龍南海山)
- Changlong Seamount (長龍海山)
See also
References
- ^ 民政部关于国务院批准设立地级三沙市的公告-中华人民共和国民政部
- ^ a b ftp://rock.geosociety.org/pub/reposit/2001/2001075.pdf
- ^ a b "Vietnam Law on Contested Islands Draws China's Ire". The New York Times. June 21, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ "Taiwan renews sovereignty claim over South China Sea islands". Focus Taiwan. May 5, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
- ^ a b c "Limits in the Seas - No. 127 Taiwan's Maritime Claims" (PDF). United States Department of State. November 15, 2005. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
- ^ "Chinese ship rams Philippine fish boat; 1 dead". Inquirer.net. June 25, 2012. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
External links
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