China sets up first Antarctic special protected area

BEIJING, July 29 (Xinhua) -- China's plan to manage a special protected area has won approval at the 31st Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, a Chinese newspaper reported.

The area, in the Grove Mountains, is at 74'12' to 75'12' east longitude and 72'51' to 72'57' south latitude, about 400 km from the Zhongshan Station, China Ocean News reported on Monday.

The area, 12 km by 10 km, mainly consists of nunatak (exposed rocky areas of ridges or peaks) scattered among an island chain, the newspaper reported.

The plan was passed at the 31st Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting held from June 2 to June 10.