PULAU LAYANG-LAYANG (SPRATLY ARCHIPELAGO) (2017) Located in the South China Sea, Pulau Layang-Layang is one of the islands of the Spratly Archipelago. This island is, as all the islands of the archipelago, a disputed territory (though currently not occupied by China). Part of Sabah (Malaysia), lying 330 km northwest of Kota Kinabalu, it bears different names : Pulau Layang-Layang in Bahasa Malaysia, Swallow Reef in English, Danwan Jiao in Chinese, Đá Hoa Lau in Vietnamese … It is claimed by Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Taïwan and the Philippines. Currently, this is the only accessible island in the Spratly Archipelago (with permit). Dominique LAURENT Meet me on : at-home-everywhere.com, mosttraveledpeople.com or nomadmania.com AUTOMATIC NO COMMERCIAL USE WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL

Pulau Layang-Layang is part of a deep sea atoll Pulau Layang-Layang is part of a deep sea atoll. Its current area is about 3 km2 (about 1,5 km long, 0,2 / 0,3 km wide). It was a mere reef whose surface was artificially expanded sevenfold.

On 21 June 1980, a claim plaque was erected on the reef by Malaysia’s Special Forces. The Swallow Reef airport was built by the Special Forces between 1991 & 1995 and expanded in 2003, most of it on reclaimed land.

A large painting on the runway : if any doubt, this is a ‘MALAYSIA’ territory !

Entrance of the Royal Malaysia Navy Base : Stesen Lima Base

Stesen Lima Jetty

Stesen Lima Base, theorically off-limits, is composed of 2 aircraft hangars, a radar station, an air traffic control tower, watchtowers, a jetty and several guns.

Military warship

Military warship

Stesen Lima Base living quarters

Most of the island has been reclaimed from the ocean and artificially increased sevenfold in size by use of concrete rubble ; except one small beach on the original emerged land, it is circled by a concrete sea wall and concrete boulders.

A ready to use coastal battery

The only beach

Pulau Layang-Layang is completely flat Pulau Layang-Layang is completely flat. Aside the airstrip and the naval base, there is only a solitary small resort. Post office service started in 2015 …

Except a few coconut trees, there is only one tree (here) on the island near the only beach.

Vegetation consists mainly of grass and shrubs of beach gardenia & sea lettuce.

Beach morning glory (purple flower)

Pulau Layang-Layang from the lagoon

A reef in the lagoon

Bird island : a small islet covered with birds in the lagoon

Sooty terns

Sooty terns

Brown noddies

Sooty tern

Brown noddy

Brown noddy

Brown boobies

Brown booby

Disused fisheries END