Serrana Bank

Serrana Bank is a Colombian-administered atoll in the western Caribbean Sea. It is a mostly underwater reef about 50 km long and 13 km wide and has six cays, or islets, the largest of which is Southwest Cay.

Not to be confused with Serranilla Bank.
Serrana Bank
Serrana Bank
Serrana Bank is located in Colombia
Serrana Bank
Serrana Bank
Serrana Bank is located in Caribbean
Serrana Bank
Serrana Bank
Geography
LocationCaribbean Sea
Coordinates14°20′N 80°20′W
Administration

Geography

The cays from south to north are:

  • Southwest Cay (500 by 200 meters)[1][2]
  • South Cay (150 by 25 meters)[1]
  • Little Cay (less than 100 meters in diameter)[1]
  • East Cay (80 by 40 meters)[3]
  • Narrow Cay
  • North Cay

History
South Cay of Serrana Bank.

Serrana Bank is believed to be named after the Spanish castaway Pedro Serrano. It was first shown on a Dutch map in 1545 with this name. They were mapped more extensively by the English in 1660. A former base for the US military, it is now mostly visited by lobster fishermen. It is now Colombian territory, though it was formerly claimed by the United States. On September 8, 1972, the two countries signed a treaty recognizing Colombia's sovereignty over Roncador Cay, and Serrana Bank and abandoning American sovereignty over Quita Sueño Bank. A fishing concession was retained by the United States over the three banks. This treaty became effective on September 17, 1981. On November 19, 2012, in regard to Nicaraguan claims to the islands, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) reaffirmed Colombia's sovereignty.[4]

On September 3, 2007 the eye of Category 5 Hurricane Felix passed over Serrana Bank.[5]

See also

References
  1. Milliman, John D. (15 August 1969), Atoll Research Bulletin No. 129 Four Southwestern Caribbean Atolls: Courtown Cays, Albuquerque Cays, Roncador Bank and Serrana Bank (PDF), The Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA, retrieved 2013-08-16
  2. Cortes, Jorge (2003). Latin American Coral Reefs. Gulf Professional Publishing. p. 283. ISBN 978-0444540256.
  3. Territorial and Maritime Dispute (Nicaragua v. Colombia). Counter-Memorial of the Republic of Colombia (PDF). Vol. 1. International Court of Justice. 11 November 2008. p. 30. para. 2.23. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-15. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
  4. International Court of Justice (2012). "Territorial and maritime dispute (Nicaragua vs Colombia)" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  5. ElTiempo.com
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