Serrana Bank

Not to be confused with Serranilla 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.

Serrana Bank

Serrana Bank
Serrana Bank Show map of Colombia Serrana Bank Show map of Caribbean
Geography
Location	Caribbean Sea
Coordinates	14°20′N 80°20′W
Administration
Colombia
Demographics
Population	58 (2010)

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. The United States retained a fishing concession over the three banks. This treaty became effective on September 17, 1981. On November 19, 2012, regarding 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

• List of Guano Island claims