Editing Paracel Islands (section)

=== Crescent group ===
[[File:CrescentGroup-annotated.jpg|thumb|Aerial photo of the Crescent group]]

Lying about {{convert|70|km|0|abbr=on}} southwest of the Amphitrite group, at {{coord|16.5|111.7}}, the Crescent group consists of islands and reefs that form a crescent-like structure from west to east, enclosing a deep central lagoon. The group measures {{convert|31|by|15|km|0|abbr=on}} east-west and north–south. All of the islands in the group support vegetation except on their small cays.

The islands are named after former senior figures in the British [[East India Company]] (EIC). Three were members of the EIC's 'Select Committee' in Canton: James Drummond, Thomas Pattle and John William Roberts. Jonathan Duncan was Governor in Council of Bombay, and [[William Taylor Money]] was Superintendent of the [[Bombay Marine]].

[[Money Island, Paracel Islands|Money Island]] lies at the southwest extremity of the group, and has some small cays on the southern side. The Chinese name for Money Island, Jin Yin Dao, is simply the translation of the English name.<br />
Antelope Reef, submerged at high tide and containing a central lagoon, lies {{convert|2.4|km|1|abbr=on}} east of Money Island.<br />
Northeast of this are [[Robert Island (Paracel Islands)|Robert Island]] (also named Round Island) and Pattle Island, separated from each other by a {{convert|3.5|km|1|abbr=on}} wide deep channel. A weather station was built on Pattle Island (by the French) in 1932, and a lighthouse and radio station in 1937.<br />
Northeast of this is Quanfu Dao ("All Wealth Island").<br />
Observation Bank, also named Silver Islet, and the Lesser Silver Islet, are the northernmost of the group and contain a small cay.<br />
Just south of them are [[Yagong Dao]] (He Duck) and Xianshe Yu (Salty Hut).

At the eastern side of the group lies a {{convert|12|km|0|abbr=on}} long boomerang shaped reef with Stone Islet at its north end and Drummond Island at its south end. Near the centre of the reef is [[Dragon Hole]]  the second deepest known sinkhole in the world.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Alcérreca-Huerta |first1=Juan Carlos |last2=Reyes-Mendoza |first2=Oscar F. |last3=Sánchez-Sánchez |first3=Joan A. |last4=Álvarez-Legorreta |first4=Teresa |last5=Carrillo |first5=Laura |date=2024 |title=Recent records of thermohaline profiles and water depth in the Taam ja' Blue Hole (Chetumal Bay, Mexico) |journal=Frontiers in Marine Science |volume=11 |page=1387235 |doi=10.3389/fmars.2024.1387235 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name="xinhaunet">{{cite web |url= http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-07/23/c_135534400.htm |title= China Exclusive: South China Sea "blue hole" declared world's deepest |work= New China |publisher= news.xinhuanet.com |date= 23 July 2016 |access-date= July 26, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160724153235/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-07/23/c_135534400.htm |archive-date= July 24, 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref name="washpost">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/07/26/researchers-just-discovered-the-worlds-deepest-underwater-sinkhole-in-the-south-china-sea/ |title=Researchers just discovered the world's deepest underwater sinkhole in the South China Sea |newspaper=Washington Post |date=26 July 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727142619/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/07/26/researchers-just-discovered-the-worlds-deepest-underwater-sinkhole-in-the-south-china-sea/ |archive-date=July 27, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Duncan Islands ({{coord|16|27|N|111|43|E}}<ref name=nga/>), consisting of Duncan Island and Palm Island, lie approximately {{convert|3|km|0|abbr=on}} west of Drummond Island and about {{convert|8|km|0|abbr=on}} east of Antelope Reef. Kuangzai Shazhou (Little Basket) lies about halfway between Palm Island and Antelope Reef.