Shell beach on Pratas Island/ Source from Mr. Lee Shing Fang

Geographical Location
　　Pratas Island is in the north part of the South China Sea, near the Pescadores (Penghu Islands), and is very close to Taiwan. Pratas Island is at the mid-point between south Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Pearl River estuary. It is the gateway to the Taiwan Strait and Bashi Channel, and is thus very important to the security of Taiwan.
Natural Environment
　　The Pratas Islands are situated on the Pratas Terrace in the northern part of the South China Sea. They are formed from a series of reef flats, and cover an area around 150 km long and 30 km wide. The Pratas Islands include three coral atolls. From north to south, these are: North Vereker Atoll, South Vereker Atoll and Pratas Atoll. South Vereker Atoll and Pratas Atoll are continuous shoals. The reefs are shaped like an ellipse, and are submerged beneath the water. Pratas Reef is a typical atoll. Pratas Island is at the west end of Pratas Atoll. It is the only island exposed above the sea surface in the Pratas Atoll. The Pratas was recorded on the "Ch'ing Dynasty Unifies China for A Thousand Years Map" (printed in 1767) under the name "Nan Awo Chi."