Louisa Reef

Louisa Reef (Brunei Malay: Terumbu Semarang Barat Kecil; Mandarin Chinese: 南通礁; pinyin: Nántōng Jiāo) is a coral atoll in the southern reaches of the Spratly Islands. The reef is oval in shape, approximately 1.5 km east to west and 0.5 km north to south. While most of Louisa Reef is submerged, some portions emerge at low tide and a few small rocks remain above water even at high tide. The atoll rises as deeply undercut walls and steep slopes from very deep water with extensive stony and soft corals. A navigation beacon built by Malaysia is at its southwest point and the highest visible rock is at the southeast end.

Louisa Reef
Disputed island
Other names:
Terumbu Semarang Barat Kecil (Malay)
南通礁 Nántōng Jiāo (Chinese)
Geography
LocationSouth China Sea
Coordinates6°20′7″N 113°16′47″E
ArchipelagoSpratly Islands
Claimed by
People's Republic of China
CitySansha, Hainan
Republic of China (Taiwan)
MunicipalityCijin, Kaohsiung
Brunei
EEZBrunei zone
Extract from US Dept of State map also showing Luconia Shoals and James Shoal.

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, 128 km to the northeast.

As of 2014, the shoal was claimed by China, Brunei, and Vietnam. Malaysia previously claimed Louisa Reef and operated a small obelisk-like concrete navigational light beacon there. However, Malaysia has apparently dropped its claim in deference to the claim of neighbouring Brunei that the reef lies on its Continental shelf.[1]

References
  1. J. Ashley Roach (2014). "Malaysia and Brunei: An Analysis of their Claims in the South China Sea" (PDF). Seas Research. Center for Naval Analyses.


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