Pedro Bank is a large bank of sand and coral, partially covered with seagrass, about 80 km south and southwest of Jamaica, rising steeply from a seabed of 800 metres depth. It slopes gently from the Pedro Cays to the west and north with depths from 13 to 30 metres (43–98 feet). The total area of the bank within the 100-metre (328-foot) isobath measures 8,040 square kilometres (3,104 square miles). The area of a depth to 40 metres (130 feet) is triangular, 70 kilometres (43 miles) long east-west, and 43 kilometres (27 miles) wide. 2,400 square kilometres (927 square miles) are less than 20 metres (66 feet) deep. With its islets, cays and rocks, a total land area of 270,000 m2 (2,906,256 sq ft), it is the location of one of the two offshore island groups of Jamaica, the other one being the Morant Cays (Jamaica also has nearshore islands like the Port Royal Cays). The bank is centered at 17°06′N78°20′W / 17.100°N 78.333°W / 17.100; -78.333 (Pedro Bank).
Pedro Bank was originally named 'Viper Bank', Spanish: Placer de la Víbora,[1] by Spanish mariners because its shallow reefs, rocks and shoals are laid out in the shape of a gigantic serpent.[2] It was once a busy and treacherous shipping passage used by seafaring Europeans in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries; archaeologists estimate there are over 300 shipwrecks on the Bank.[2]
Pedro Bank was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1863 and added to Jamaica in 1882.
Today the Bank is known for its economic and cultural importance; it is the main harvesting ground for Queen Conch in the Caribbean and is highly valued by Jamaica's fishing community who have been operating on the Bank and using its small Cays as a base since the 1920s.[2]
Cays, rocks and reefsedit
The Pedro Cays, at 17°00′N77°50′W / 17.000°N 77.833°W / 17.000; -77.833 (Pedro Cays), four small, flat (2 to 5 metres high), low-lying and mostly uninhabited cays, lie about midway along the southern edge of the eastern half of Pedro Bank. The sparse land vegetation consists of six species of plants, none of which are endemic. The cays are regionally important seabird nesting and roosting areas (masked boobies, roseate terns and others) and also provide several endangered turtle species such as hawksbills and loggerheads with nesting grounds. The islets yield some guano and coconuts. More importantly, they represent the primary harvesting area for the largest export of Queen Conch from the Caribbean region. They were occupied by the British in 1863 and made part of Jamaica in 1882. They are considered part of the parish of Kingston, for all purposes except taxes.
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Pedro Bank is a large bank of sand and coral partially covered with seagrass about 80 km south and southwest of Jamaica rising steeply from a seabed of 800 metres depth It slopes gently from the Pedro Cays to the west and north with depths from 13 to 30 metres 43 98 feet The total area of the bank within the 100 metre 328 foot isobath measures 8 040 square kilometres 3 104 square miles The area of a depth to 40 metres 130 feet is triangular 70 kilometres 43 miles long east west and 43 kilometres 27 miles wide 2 400 square kilometres 927 square miles are less than 20 metres 66 feet deep With its islets cays and rocks a total land area of 270 000 m2 2 906 256 sq ft it is the location of one of the two offshore island groups of Jamaica the other one being the Morant Cays Jamaica also has nearshore islands like the Port Royal Cays The bank is centered at 17 06 N 78 20 W 17 100 N 78 333 W 17 100 78 333 Pedro Bank Pedro BankPlacer de la ViboraSubmerged bank Pedro Bank Caribbean SeaCaribbeanAreaNicaragua RiseCountryJamaicaMinimum depth20 mPedro Bank is a part of submarine Nicaragua Rise which stretches from Cabo Gracias a Dios through Rosalind Bank to Jamaica Contents 1 History 2 Cays rocks and reefs 3 References 4 External linksHistory editPedro Bank was originally named Viper Bank Spanish Placer de la Vibora 1 by Spanish mariners because its shallow reefs rocks and shoals are laid out in the shape of a gigantic serpent 2 It was once a busy and treacherous shipping passage used by seafaring Europeans in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries archaeologists estimate there are over 300 shipwrecks on the Bank 2 Pedro Bank was annexed by the United Kingdom in 1863 and added to Jamaica in 1882 Today the Bank is known for its economic and cultural importance it is the main harvesting ground for Queen Conch in the Caribbean and is highly valued by Jamaica s fishing community who have been operating on the Bank and using its small Cays as a base since the 1920s 2 Cays rocks and reefs editThe Pedro Cays at 17 00 N 77 50 W 17 000 N 77 833 W 17 000 77 833 Pedro Cays four small flat 2 to 5 metres high low lying and mostly uninhabited cays lie about midway along the southern edge of the eastern half of Pedro Bank The sparse land vegetation consists of six species of plants none of which are endemic The cays are regionally important seabird nesting and roosting areas masked boobies roseate terns and others and also provide several endangered turtle species such as hawksbills and loggerheads with nesting grounds The islets yield some guano and coconuts More importantly they represent the primary harvesting area for the largest export of Queen Conch from the Caribbean region They were occupied by the British in 1863 and made part of Jamaica in 1882 They are considered part of the parish of Kingston for all purposes except taxes Northeast Cay also called Top Cay 75 000 square metres 807 293 square feet at 17 03 N 77 46 W 17 050 N 77 767 W 17 050 77 767 Northeast Cay is covered with brush and has a group of palm trees growing on its northwest side There is a lighted beacon in the north Middle Cay 40 000 m2 430 556 sq ft at 17 01 N 77 47 W 17 017 N 77 783 W 17 017 77 783 Middle Cay is covered with low grass and bushes A Jamaican Coast Guard station and a fishermen s camp with number of huts and a large shed are in the southeast Southwest Cay also called Bird Cay 152 000 square metres 1 636 114 square feet at 16 59 N 77 49 W 16 983 N 77 817 W 16 983 77 817 Southwest Cay the largest of the Pedro Cays is a protected bird sanctuary with a large tree South Cay also called Sandy Cay 2 000 square metres 21 528 square feet at 16 57 N 77 50 W 16 950 N 77 833 W 16 950 77 833 South Cay consists of coral and shells This is the southernmost point of land of Jamaica In a wider sense some over water rocks small outcrops of oolitic limestone over which water breaks are considered part of the Pedro Cays Portland Rock also called Eastern Pedro Cay at 17 06 N 77 27 W 17 100 N 77 450 W 17 100 77 450 Portland Rock lies about 63 km SSW of Portland Point the southern extremity of Jamaica The rock consists of two summits that lie in an east west direction Blower Rock at 17 03 N 77 31 W 17 050 N 77 517 W 17 050 77 517 Blower Rock lies 8 km southwest of Portland Rock and is 0 6 m high Shannon Rock at 17 02 N 77 40 W 17 033 N 77 667 W 17 033 77 667 Shannon Rock lies about 15 km WSW of Blower Rock It is 0 5 m high There are several submarine features on Pedro Bank such as Doyle Shoal at 17 09 N 77 33 W 17 150 N 77 550 W 17 150 77 550 Doyle Shoal with a depth of 14 m lies 13 km NNW of Blower Rock Willsteed Rock at 17 08 N 77 37 W 17 133 N 77 617 W 17 133 77 617 Willsteed Rock with a depth of 12 lies 13 km northwest of Blower Rock Banner Reef at 16 52 N 78 06 W 16 867 N 78 100 W 16 867 78 100 Banner Reef awash and 2 4 km long lies 26 km WSW of South Cay Southwest Rock at 16 48 N 78 11 W 16 800 N 78 183 W 16 800 78 183 Southwest Rock lies about 9 km southwest of Banner Reef Powell Knoll at 16 47 N 77 43 W 16 783 N 77 717 W 16 783 77 717 Powell Knoll lies 32 km southwest of Shannon Rock with a lowest depth of 28 8 m It is the southernmost feature of Jamaica not counting Alice Shoal which is claimed by Jamaica but considered a part of Colombia References edit Derrotero de las islas Antillas y de las costas orientales de America p 333 a b c Assessing Coral reefs in Jamaica Nathalie ZennyExternal links editSailing Directions Caribbean Sea Vol I Gazetteer Geographic Names of Jamaica Pedro Bank and Cays Management Area Island Directory United Nations System wide Earthwatch Nature Conservancy Pedro Bank Article on Reef Assessment on Pedro Bank Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pedro Bank amp oldid 1051938726, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
