Sand Cay


Sand Cay, also known as Son Ca Island is a cay on the north edge of the Tizard Bank of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. With an area of, it is the ninth largest, and the fourth largest former Vietnamese-administered, of the Spratly Islands. The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1974,. It is also claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Sovereignty

The island has been occupied by Vietnam since 1974,. However, no Vietnamese stations have been built. By the later half of the 20th century, no nation had complete sovereignty on the islands.

Geography

Part of the Tizard Bank, Sand Cay lies east of Itu Aba Island, which is occupied by Taiwan. It is long, wide, and has an elevation of to at low tide. There is a high light house on the islet. Sand Cay is commonly confused with Sandy Cay which is a sandy shoal near Thitu Island.

Ecology

Sand Cay has no source of natural fresh water, but the islet's coral sand is covered with a thin layer of fertile humus mixing with guano. The vegetation mainly composes of Barringtonia asiatica, Ipomoea pes-caprae and Casuarinaceae's species as well as some kinds of grass. In recent years, islanders have cultivated fruit trees such as pomelo, jackfruit, dragonfruit, sugar-apple and guava. Sand Cay is usually visited by seabirds, and its surrounding water is rich with fish, sea snails and sea cucumbers.