West
York Island
by Wolfgang Schippke, DC3MF
West York Island (11N05, 115E00) is a small sandy island
located in the north eastern part of the Spratly Group. The island is about
550 yards from east to southwest and about 330 yeards wide. It is composited
by sand and coral, ans surrounded by a wide submerged reef. It is a part
of the wide offshore Menzies Reef, a bank of about 13 miles long and 6
miles wide foul ground, located west and northwest of West York Island.
It is one of the most prominent islands in the complete group and rising
to an elevation to 33 meters near its centre.
The island is covered with trees and bushes, and partly overbuilt by
some houses in ruines, errected by the Japans during World War II.