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:
total: less than 5 sq km
[see also: Area - total country ranks ]
land: less than 5 sq km
[see also: Area - land country ranks ]
water: 0 sq km
[see also: Area - water country ranks ]
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
country comparison to the world: 250

Area - comparative:
land area is about seven times the size of the National Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
926 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
NA

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
small, flat islands, islets, cays, and reefs

Elevation:
mean elevation: NA
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 6 m

Natural resources:
fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use:
agricultural land: 0% arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
forest: 0%
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 100% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - other country ranks ]

Natural hazards:
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:
China's use of dredged sand and coral to build artificial islands harms reef systems; illegal fishing practices indiscriminately harvest endangered species, including sea turtles and giant clams

Geography - note:
strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs