Loaita Island
Encyclopedia
Loaita Island is the tenth largest Spratly island
. It is the fifth largest Philippine-occupied Spratly island. Its area is 6.45 hectares. It is located 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island (Pagasa Island)
and 22 miles (35 km) north-northeast of Taiwan-occupied Itu Aba Island. This island
is administered by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan
. Kota is a Philippine word for a fort. This island is also claimed by the People's Republic of China
, Republic of China
(Taiwan) and Vietnam
.
in the process. The presence of migrating sea birds adds to the high phosphorus
contents of the sand found in the island. Occasionally, giant sea turtles are reported to be laying their eggs in the island. It is covered with mangrove bushes, above which rose coconut palms and other small trees.
The soldiers stationed here are also the guards of nearby Lankiam Cay (Panata Island)
which lies 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Kota Island. It is also occupied by the Philippines. Panata Island is too small and manning it 24 hours is a difficult task. Hence, soldiers at Kota Island guard Panata afar by regularly "watching" it from a tall structure (to increase the horizon
distance). They also regularly visit Panata.
Loaita Nan and Loaita Cay, which are distinct from Kota Island, lies 5 miles (8 km) northwest and 1.5 miles (2 km) south-northeast of Kota respectively. These are unoccupied features but are largely controlled by the Philippines for their close proximity with Kota Island.
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
. It is the fifth largest Philippine-occupied Spratly island. Its area is 6.45 hectares. It is located 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island (Pagasa Island)
Thitu Island
Thitu Island , having an area of 37.2 hectares is the second largest Spratly Island and the largest of all Philippine-occupied Spratly Islands. It lies about west of Puerto Princesa City...
and 22 miles (35 km) north-northeast of Taiwan-occupied Itu Aba Island. This island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
is administered by the Philippines as part of Kalayaan, Palawan
Kalayaan, Palawan
Kalayaan is a 6th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 114 people in 12 households....
. Kota is a Philippine word for a fort. This island is also claimed by the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
(Taiwan) and Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
.
Environment
Loaita fringes the Loaita bank and reef. Its calcarenite outcrop is visible along its western side at low tide. The present shape of the island indicates sand buildup along its eastern side. The anchor-shaped side will eventually connect with the northern portion as the sand buildup continues thereby creating another mini-lagoonLagoon
A lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
in the process. The presence of migrating sea birds adds to the high phosphorus
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the chemical element that has the symbol P and atomic number 15. A multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group, phosphorus as a mineral is almost always present in its maximally oxidized state, as inorganic phosphate rocks...
contents of the sand found in the island. Occasionally, giant sea turtles are reported to be laying their eggs in the island. It is covered with mangrove bushes, above which rose coconut palms and other small trees.
Philippine Occupation
Several Philippine soldiers are stationed here since 1968, when Philippines occupied this feature. There are only one to two structures in this island that serve as shelters of the soldiers.The soldiers stationed here are also the guards of nearby Lankiam Cay (Panata Island)
Lankiam Cay
Lankiam Cay is the smallest island of Spratly islands. It is the seventh largest among Philippine-occupied islands. It has an area of 0.44 hectares . It is located 8 miles northeast of Philippine-occupied Loaita Island...
which lies 8 miles (13 km) northeast of Kota Island. It is also occupied by the Philippines. Panata Island is too small and manning it 24 hours is a difficult task. Hence, soldiers at Kota Island guard Panata afar by regularly "watching" it from a tall structure (to increase the horizon
Horizon
The horizon is the apparent line that separates earth from sky, the line that divides all visible directions into two categories: those that intersect the Earth's surface, and those that do not. At many locations, the true horizon is obscured by trees, buildings, mountains, etc., and the resulting...
distance). They also regularly visit Panata.
Loaita Nan and Loaita Cay, which are distinct from Kota Island, lies 5 miles (8 km) northwest and 1.5 miles (2 km) south-northeast of Kota respectively. These are unoccupied features but are largely controlled by the Philippines for their close proximity with Kota Island.
See also
- Spratly IslandsSpratly IslandsThe Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
- Kalayaan, PalawanKalayaan, PalawanKalayaan is a 6th class municipality in the province of Palawan, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 114 people in 12 households....
- Policies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly IslandsPolicies, activities and history of the Philippines in Spratly Islands-Overview:The Philippines, along with Vietnam, People's Republic of China, Republic of China , Malaysia and Brunei, is a claimant country in the disputed Spratly Islands group. Currently the Philippines is occupying nine features :As a comparison, Vietnam occupies six islands, seventeen reefs and...