Erica Reef

{{Short description|Disputed atoll in the South China Sea}}

{{Infobox islands

| disputed = yes

| type = atoll

| name = Erica Reef

| other_names = Enola Reef
Terumbu Siput (Malay)
Gabriela Silang Reef (Philippine English)
Bahura ng Gabriela Silang (Filipino)
Đá Én Ca (Vietnamese)
簸箕礁 Bòji Jiāo (Chinese)

| image_name = Erica Reef, Spratly Islands.png

| image_size = 250px

| image_caption = Satellite image of Erica Reef by NASA.

| pushpin_map = Spratly Islands relief

| location = South China Sea

| coordinates = {{coord|8|6|0|N|114|8|37|E|display=it}}
{{coord|8|6|0|N|114|8|37|E|format=dec}}

| archipelago = Spratly Islands

| country = {{MYS}}

| country_admin_divisions_title = State

| country_admin_divisions = Sabah

| country1 = {{CHN}}

| country1_admin_divisions_title = City

| country1_admin_divisions = Sansha, Hainan

| country2 = {{MYS}}

| country2_admin_divisions_title = State

| country2_admin_divisions = Sabah

| country3 = {{PHL}}

| country3_admin_divisions_title = Municipality

| country3_admin_divisions = Kalayaan, Palawan

| country4 = {{TWN}}

| country4_admin_divisions_title = Municipality

| country4_admin_divisions = Cijin, Kaohsiung

| country5 = {{VNM}}

| country5_admin_divisions_title = District

| country5_admin_divisions = Trường Sa, Khánh Hòa

}}

Erica Reef, also known as Enola Reef; {{langx|ms|Terumbu Siput|lit=Shell Reef}}; Gabriela Silang Reef ({{langx|fil|Bahura ng Gabriela Silang|lit=}}); {{langx|vi|đá Én Ca}}; Mandarin {{zh|t=|s=|p=Bòji Jiāo|c=簸箕礁}}, is located in the SW of Dangerous Ground, 24km east-northeast of Mariveles Reef in the Spratly Islands.http://www.oceangrafix.com/chart/zoom?chart=93047 SW Dangerous Ground

It is small, almost circular, with an outside radius about 1 km. It dries entirely at low tide, enclosing a shallow lagoon. A few rocks remain visible on the east side at high water but there is no obvious point of reference. The lagoon is too shallow to be of much interest and the outer reef is a steep slope rather than a drop-off, but it descends into very deep water. Healthy stony corals harbouring a myriad of reef creatures descend into the depths and many shoals of semi-pelagic fish are seen in the clear visibility. On each reef the south walls are precipitous while their other boundaries are slopes, the walls are a result of prevailing currents and the direction of maximum sunlight encouraging coral growth.{{fact|date=November 2012}}

It is one of the areas in the Spratly Islands occupied by Malaysia. The Royal Malaysian Navy has maintained an "offshore naval station" there called "Station Sierra" since 1999.{{cite book|author1=Joshua Ho|author2=Sam Bateman|title=Maritime Challenges and Priorities in Asia: Implications for Regional Security|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wQEw-ffhOykC&pg=PA74|date=15 February 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-29820-2|pages=74–}} The atoll is also claimed by the People's Republic of China, Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, and Vietnam. The Filipino (Tagalog) name is named after Philippine revolutionary leader, Gabriela Silang.