ds, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

@Spratly Islands, People

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants; note - there are scattered garrisons

@Spratly Islands, Government

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,
Environ