Low-tide elevation

Low-tide elevation is a naturally formed area of land which is above water and surrounded by water at low tide but submerged at high tide.¹ It may be a mudflat or reef.

Low tide elevations may be used as basepoints for the calculation of maritime zones unless they lie at a distance exceeding the breadth of the territorial sea [12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi)] from the nearest mainland or island.

According to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, "If an LTE (low-tide elevation) is located within maritime zones of a littoral state, such as territorial sea, exclusive economic zone, and continental shelf, it automatically belongs to that state."²