Loaita Bank

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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

The Loaita Bank 10°45′N 114°30′E / 10.750°N 114.500°E / 10.750; 114.500Coordinates: 10°45′N 114°30′E / 10.750°N 114.500°E / 10.750; 114.500 is one of the significant maritime features in the Spratly Islands. It is about 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) long on its NE-SW axis, and extends from Loaita Island to the NW of Dangerous Ground.^[1][2]

The bank contains a number of maritime features, including shoals, reefs, an island, two sand cays, and a lagoon:^[1]

• Loaita Island (10°41′N 114°25′E / 10.683°N 114.417°E / 10.683; 114.417)
• Lankiam Cay (10°43′N 114°32′E / 10.717°N 114.533°E / 10.717; 114.533)
• Loaita Nan
• Loaita Reef
• and numerous less well defined/named shoals and reefs.

At the NE end of the bank there is "a ridge of foul ground that is an extension" of the bank; Menzies Reef (11°09′N 114°48′E / 11.150°N 114.800°E / 11.150; 114.800) lies at the NE end of this ridge, inside Dangerous Ground.^[3]

It is neighboured by the Thitu Reefs and Subi Reef to the NW, Irving Reef to the east, North Danger Reef to the north, and the Tizard and Union Banks to the south.

References