Erica Reef, Circular atoll in Sabah, Malaysia
Erica Reef is an atoll in Sabah with a ring-shaped structure and an outer radius of approximately one kilometer. The interior contains a shallow lagoon that becomes fully exposed during low tide.
Malaysia established Station Sierra as a naval base on the reef in 1999. This facility was built to maintain control over this section of the Spratly Islands.
Different nations in Southeast Asia use different names for this formation, with Malaysia calling it Terumbu Siput and China calling it Boji Jiao. These names reflect how important the reef is to multiple countries in the region.
The reef has steep slopes on its outer edges, and several rocks are particularly visible in the eastern section during high water periods. Visitors should pay attention to tidal conditions, as they significantly affect accessibility and safety.
The ring-shaped lagoon has no natural entrance points and is surrounded entirely by reef surface. This isolated nature makes the formation quite unusual within the region.
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