Serrana Bank


Serrana Bank is an 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.

Geography

The cays from south to north are:
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 reaffirmed Colombia's sovereignty.
On September 3, 2007 the eye of Category 5 Hurricane Felix passed over Serrana Bank.