Socotra Rock

About

Socotra Rock, also known as Ieodo, Parangdo, or Suyan Islet (simplified, traditional, pinyin: Sūyán Jiāo), is a submerged rock 4.6 metres (15 ft) below sea level (at low tide) located in the Yellow Sea. International maritime law stipulates that a submerged rock outside of a country's territorial sea (generally 12 nautical miles) cannot be claimed as territory by any country. However, the rock is the subject of a maritime dispute between China and South Korea, which consider it to lie within their respective exclusive economic zones. The rock is located 149 kilometres (80 nmi, 93 mi) southwest of Marado (just off Jeju Island) in Korea. Yushan Island of Zhejiang, China, is 287 km (155 nmi, 178 mi) away from the rock. The rock serves as the foundation for Korean Ieodo Ocean Research Station. A Korean helipad is also located there to allow the research station to be serviced.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.