Money Island, Paracel Islands

Money Island viewed from NASA satellite.

Money Island^[1] or Jinyin Island,^[2] (Chinese: 金银岛; literally "money island"; Vietnamese: Ðảo Quang Ảnh^[3]) is the southwesternmost island in the Crescent Group of the Paracel Islands archipelago. It rises to a height of 6 metres and is covered with brush.^[4] At the eastern side of the island lies an extensive reef, which contains a central lagoon, but the reef is mostly submerged at high tide. Inside the lagoon, the open areas range in depth from 7 m to 20 m. The sand cay at the southeastern extremity of reef is the reef's highest point. The channel between Money Island's reef and Antelope Reef is about 1.5 miles wide.^[4] The reef continues around to the north side of the island. There is a small reef on the south side with a man-made channel cut through it to the beach.

The island is administrated by the People's Republic of China under Hainan Province. Claim to the island, as part of the Paracels, has been made by the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Vietnam. While the island is uninhabited, patrols are made by the Navy of the People's Republic of China. It is believed that the south channel was cut by Chinese naval personnel.

See also

• Paracel Islands

Reference

1. ^ "Money Island (Approved)" Money Island, Paracel Islands at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
2. ^ "Jinyin Dao (Variant)" Money Island, Paracel Islands at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
3. ^ "Vính Lạc, Ðảo (Variant)" Money Island, Paracel Islands at GEOnet Names Server, United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
4. ^ ^{a b} National Imagery and Mapping Agency (2002) "South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand – Central Part: Paracel Islands" Sailing Directions (enroute): South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand (8th edition) National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Bethesda, Maryland, OCLC 50280301

Coordinates: 16°26′53″N 111°30′29″E / 16.44806°N 111.50806°E / 16.44806; 111.50806