Names: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Spratly Islands Digraph: PG
@Spratly Islands, Economy
Overview:
Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to
nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the
potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely
unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves;
commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.
Industries:
none
@Spratly Islands, Communications
Ports: no natural harbors Airports: total: 4 usable: 4 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0
@Spratly Islands, Defense Forces
Note:
about 50 small islands or reefs are occupied by China, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam
@Sri Lanka, Geography
Location:
Southern Asia, 29 km southeast of India across the Palk Strait in the
Indian Ocean
Map references:
Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
65,610 sq km
land area:
64,740 sq km
comparative area:
slightly larger than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,340 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone:
24 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm or the edge of continental margin
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
12 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest
monsoon (June to October)
Terrain:
mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior
Natural resources:
limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay
Land use:
arable land:
16%
permanent crops:
17%
meadows and pastures:
7%
forest and woodland:
37%
other:
23%
Irrigated land:
5,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues:
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by
poaching; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased
pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes
and sewage runoff
natural hazards:
occasional cyclones and tornadoes
international agreements:
party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone
Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea,
Marine Life Conservation
Note:
strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes
@Sri Lanka, People