Disputed reef and islands | |
---|---|
![]() Satellite image of Serranilla Bank | |
Location in San Andrés y Providencia Location off Colombia | |
Geography | |
Location | Caribbean Sea |
Coordinates | 15°50′N 79°50′W / 15.833°N 79.833°W [1] |
Total islands | 4 |
Major islands | Beacon Cay |
Administration | |
Department | San Andrés and Providencia |
Claimed by | |
Demographics | |
Population | 0 |
Serranilla Bank (Spanish: Isla Serranilla, Banco Serranilla and Placer de la Serranilla)[2] is a partially submerged reef, with small uninhabited islets, in the western Caribbean Sea. It is situated about 350 kilometres (220 mi) northeast of Punta Gorda, Nicaragua, and roughly 280 kilometres (170 mi) southwest of Jamaica.[1] The closest neighbouring land feature is Bajo Nuevo Bank, located 110 kilometres (68 mi) to the east.
Serranilla Bank was first shown on Spanish maps in 1510. It is administered by Colombia as part of the department of San Andrés and Providencia.[3][4] The reef is subject to a sovereignty dispute involving Colombia and the United States. A previous claim by Honduras was resolved in favor of Colombia when the two countries approved a treaty establishing their maritime boundaries.[5] Jamaica's claim was resolved when it established a joint regime area with overlapping maritime boundaries in 1993, but acknowledging Colombian control of Serranilla and Bajo Nuevo banks.[6] In 2012, in regards to Nicaraguan claims to the islands, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) upheld Colombia's sovereignty over the bank, although the judgment does not analyze or mention the U.S. claim over the reef.[7]