Investigator Shoal, also known as Malay: Terumbu Peninjau; Pawikan Shoal (Filipino: Buhanginan ng Pawikan, lit.'Sandbank of Sea Turtle'); Vietnamese: bãi Thám Hiểm; chữ Nôm: 𣺽探險; Mandarin Chinese: 榆亞暗沙/榆亚暗沙; pinyin: Yúyà ànshā, is located in the SW of Dangerous Ground in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea.[1]

Investigator Shoal
Disputed atoll
Satellite image of Investigator Shoal by NASA.
Investigator Shoal is located in Spratly Islands
Investigator Shoal
Investigator Shoal
Other names
Terumbu Peninjau (Malay)
Pawikan Shoal (Philippine English)
Buhanginan ng Pawikan (Filipino)
Bãi Thám Hiểm (Vietnamese)
榆亚暗沙 Yúyà ànshā (Chinese)
Geography
LocationSouth China Sea
Coordinates8°6′51″N 114°42′7″E / 8.11417°N 114.70194°E / 8.11417; 114.70194
ArchipelagoSpratly Islands
Administration
StateSabah
DistrictKudat
Claimed by
CitySansha, Hainan
StateSabah
DistrictKudat
MunicipalityKalayaan, Palawan
MunicipalityCijin, Kaohsiung
DistrictTruong Sa, Khanh Hoa

It is an atoll above water at low tide; some large rocks at the western end might be visible at high water. The atoll is 32.1 kilometres (19.9 mi) and is up to 10.6 km wide.[2] The total atoll area is 188 square kilometres (73 sq mi). The lagoon is up to 45 meters deep.[3]

It is one of the areas in the Spratly Islands occupied by Malaysia. The Royal Malaysian Navy has maintained an "offshore naval station" there called "Station Papa" since 1999.[4]

References

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  1. ^ NGA Chart 93047, oceangrafix.com
  2. ^ Measured from a satellite image with the wikimapia measuring tool at Wikimapia
  3. ^ Atoll Area, Depth and Rainfall[permanent dead link], rock.geosociety.org
  4. ^ Joshua Ho; Sam Bateman (15 February 2013). Maritime Challenges and Priorities in Asia: Implications for Regional Security. Routledge. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-1-136-29820-2.
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