Louisa Reef

Louisa Reef

Disputed island Other names: Nantong Jiao 南通礁; Terumbu Semarang Barat Kecil
Geography
Louisa Reef (South China Sea)
Location	South China Sea
Coordinates	6°20′7″N 113°16′47″E / 6.33528°N 113.27972°E / 6.33528; 113.27972Coordinates: 6°20′7″N 113°16′47″E / 6.33528°N 113.27972°E / 6.33528; 113.27972
Archipelago	Spratly Islands
Claimed by
People's Republic of China
City	Sansha, Hainan
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Municipality	Cijin, Kaohsiung
Brunei
EEZ	Brunei zone

Louisa Reef, known as Nantong Jiao (Chinese: 南通礁) in China and Terumbu Semarang Barat Kecil in Brunei Malay, is in the southern reaches of the Spratly Islands. Malaysia previously operated a small navigational light beacon here but has apparently dropped its claim to Louisa Reef in deference to neighboring Brunei. ^[1] While most of Louisa Reef is underwater, some portions dry at low tide and some small rocks remain above water even at high tide. Louisa Reef is 128 km south-southwest of Swallow Reef. It rises as deeply undercut walls and steep slopes from very deep water with extensive stony and soft corals. Safe anchorage is difficult to find, depending on the wind and currents, but there are sandy areas at the northwest and southwest ends. The nearest reliable shelter for boats is the lagoon at Swallow Reef.

Louisa Reef is oval in shape, approximately 1.5 km east to west and 0.5 km north to south. The navigation beacon is at its southwest point and the highest visible rock is at the southeast end. The reef itself abounds with pristine coral growth, with a prolific amount of staghorn coral on the north and west walls. The sandy patches immediately south and west of the beacon provide excellent night diving.

References

External links

• Map showing Louisa Reef within Brunei claim

Part of a series on the
Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands military occupations map
Related articles
Spratly Islands dispute Dangerous Ground (South China Sea) Great wall of sand History of the Spratly Islands List of maritime features in the Spratly Islands Philippines and the Spratly Islands Republic of Morac-Songhrati-Meads Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
Confrontations
Southwest Cay incident (1975) Johnson South Reef skirmish (1988)
Military occupations
Occupied by China Cuarteron Reef · Huayang Reef Fiery Cross Reef · Yongshu Reef Gaven Reefs · Nanxun Reef and Xinan Reef Hughes Reef · Dongmen Reef Johnson South Reef · Chigua Reef Mischief Reef · Meiji Reef Subi Reef · Zhubi Reef Occupied by Malaysia Ardasier Reef · Ubi Reef Dallas Reef · Laya Reef Erica Reef · Siput Reef Investigator Shoal · Peninjau Shoal Louisa Reef · Semarang Barat Kecil Reef Mariveles Reef · Mantanani Reef Swallow Reef · Layang-Layang Island Occupied by the Philippines Thitu Island · Pagasa Island West York Island · Likas Island Northeast Cay · Parola Island Nanshan Island · Lawak Island Loaita Island · Kota Island Flat Island · Patag Island Lankiam Cay · Panata Island Irving Reef · Balagtas Reef Second Thomas Shoal · Ayungin Shoal Occupied by Taiwan Itu Aba Island · Taiping Island Zhongzhou Reef Occupied by Vietnam Spratly Island · Truong Sa Island Southwest Cay · Song Tu Tay Island Sin Cowe Island · Sinh Ton Island Sand Cay · Son Ca Island Namyit Island · Nam Yet Island Amboyna Cay · An Bang Island Collins Reef · Co Lin Reef Ladd Reef · Lat Reef