Nanxiao Dao

Nanxiao Dao
Native name:
南小岛
Interactive map of Nanxiao Dao
Geography
LocationEast China Sea
Coordinates25°43.4′N 123°33.0′E / 25.7233°N 123.5500°E / 25.7233; 123.5500
ArchipelagoDiaoyu Islands
Area0.40 km2 (0.15 sq mi)
Highest elevation139 m (456 ft)
Administration
China
Demographics
PopulationUninhabited

Nanxiao Dao (Chinese: 南小岛, Nánxiǎo Dǎo[1]) is one of the uninhabited islets affiliated with the Diaoyu Islands, located approximately 5.5 kilometers southeast of Diaoyu Dao.[2] It is one of the minor landforms forming the Diaoyu Islands and is occasionally referred to together with Beixiao Dao as Gǎnlǎnshān (Olive Mountain), Xuepolan, or Huangmaoyu.[3][4]

The name "Nanxiao Dao" was officially designated by China's State Oceanic Administration on March 3, 2012, as part of the standard naming of features within the Diaoyu Islands and their affiliated territories.[5][6]

Geography

Nanxiao Dao lies at latitude 25°43.4′N and longitude 123°33′E. The islet covers an area of approximately 0.40 square kilometers and reaches a maximum elevation of 139 meters. Its topography consists of erosional hills, generally forming an elliptical shape. The island's main landforms are Quantou Ling (Fist Ridge, Chinese: 拳头岭) and Muzhi Feng (Thumb Peak, Chinese: 拇指峰), the latter being a sharp rock formation connected via a marine erosion platform.[7][8]

To its immediate north lies Beixiao Dao, separated by a strait known as the Gǎnlǎn Mén Strait ("Olive Gate"), approximately 150 meters long and 200 meters wide. During periods of heavy seas in the East China Sea, fishermen from Taiwan and Fujian have historically used this strait as a natural harbor to seek shelter from storms.[9]

Topography and Ecology

Nanxiao Dao, also nicknamed "Snake Island" (due to its abundant snake population), is uninhabited. It forms part of a natural strait with Beixiao Dao, collectively creating a unique geological formation. Geomorphologically, these two islets were originally one landmass that later split due to faulting and tectonic activity.[10]

The island is notable for its dense snake population. Snakes range in size from as thick as a rice bowl to as small as a pinkie finger. They are predominantly yellow and black in color and are non-venomous. Because of this high snake population, birdlife is nearly absent on Nanxiao Dao, in contrast to Beixiao Dao, which is known for its birds.[11] Additionally, the harsh wind conditions and lack of freshwater on the island make it unsuitable for mosquitoes or other insects.[12][13]

The island's terrain includes contrasting features: a flat sandy shore stretches for over 100 meters before sharply rising into slopes as steep as 300 meters high. This results in a dramatic landscape of coastal cliffs and sea-facing ridges.[14]

Survey and Reports

On April 26, 2021, China's Ministry of Natural Resources released a report titled Survey Report on the Topography and Landforms of the Diaoyu Islands and Their Affiliated Islets (Chinese: 《钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿地形地貌调查报告》), which included detailed geographical and geological data on Nanxiao Dao.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ping, Jonathan H.; McCormick, Brett (2015-12-14). China's Strategic Priorities. Routledge. p. 2. ISBN 978-1-134-59236-4. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
  2. ↑ Liu, Jiangyong (2019-07-02). The Diaoyu Islands: Facts and Legality. Springer. p. 15. ISBN 978-981-13-8699-2. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  3. ↑ 中国边疆史地硏究 (in Chinese). 《中国边疆史地硏究》编辑部. 1996. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  4. ↑ Pan, Junwu (2009-02-23). Toward a New Framework for Peaceful Settlement of China's Territorial and Boundary Disputes. BRILL. p. 139. ISBN 978-90-474-2774-2. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  5. ↑ 张泽南; 张璐 (2004). 海疆纵览: 中国海域地理变迁和资源开发 (in Chinese). 海潮出版社. p. 165. ISBN 978-7-80151-771-5. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  6. 1 2 "自然资源部发布《钓鱼岛及其附属岛屿地形地貌调查报告》_京报网". 京报新闻_京报网. 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  7. ↑ "钓鱼岛海域部分地理实体名称表". 中华人民共和国外交部 (in Chinese). 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  8. ↑ "南小岛_钓鱼岛是中国的固有领土". 中国网--网上中国 (in Chinese). 2014-12-11. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  9. ↑ 鞠德源 (2001). 日本国窃土源流, 钓鱼列屿主权辨 (in Chinese). 首都师范大学出版社. p. 694. ISBN 978-7-81064-222-4. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  10. ↑ 袁家冬; 刘绍峰 (2016-01-01). 琉球群岛的地缘关系 (in Chinese). Social Sciences Academic Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-7-5097-9473-9. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  11. ↑ 袁家冬; 刘绍峰 (2016-01-01). 琉球群岛的地缘关系 (in Chinese). Social Sciences Academic Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-7-5097-9473-9. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  12. ↑ 鞠德源 (2001). 日本国窃土源流, 钓鱼列屿主权辨 (in Chinese). 首都师范大学出版社. p. 325. ISBN 978-7-81064-222-4. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  13. ↑ "钓鱼岛列岛之南小岛-中国气象局政府门户网站". 中国气象网-中国气象局政府门户网站 (in Chinese). 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
  14. ↑ "中国测绘科学研究院". 中国测绘科学研究院. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
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