
Silver Bank () is a
submerged bank
An ocean bank, sometimes referred to as a fishing bank or simply bank, is a part of the seabed that is shallow compared to its surrounding area, such as a shoal or the top of an seamount, underwater hill. Somewhat like continental margin, conti ...
in the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...
north of the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
and southeast of the territory of
Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands (abbreviated TCI; and ) are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands, two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and no ...
. It covers an area of . It is separated from
Mouchoir Bank
Mouchoir Bank, in Spanish language, Spanish also called ''Banco de Pañuelo Blanco'', is a submerged bank that is part of the Turks and Caicos Islands and falls within its exclusive economic zone.
The bank, located southeast of the Turks islan ...
in the west by Silver Bank Passage, and from
Navidad Bank
Navidad Bank () is a submerged bank in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Dominican Republic and southeast of the Territory of Turks & Caicos. It is separated from Silver Bank by the wide Navidad Bank Passage.
Geography
Navidad Bank is a shallow und ...
in the east by Navidad Bank Passage.
Geography
Silver Bank is a shallow underwater
carbonate platform
A carbonate platform is a Sedimentary rock, sedimentary body which possesses topographic relief, and is composed of Autochthon (geology), autochthonic calcareous deposits. Platform growth is mediated by Sessility (zoology), sessile organisms whose ...
that almost reaches the ocean's surface in certain areas ( deep in the shallow parts), but is mostly submerged. In its northern reaches, many coral heads reach the ocean surface, especially at low tide. Lying amongst the coral heads is the wrecked freighter ''Polyxeni'', most of which rests above the surface. Persons can board the ''Polyxeni'' only with governmental permission.
Because the Silver Bank is shallow, it is not suitable for passage of large ships. In fact, any boat in the area should obtain permission before entering the bank.
The area is considered part of the Dominican Republic, as is Navidad Bank east of it. On Oct. 14, 1986, the Dominican Republic established the
Silver and Navidad Bank Sanctuary ''(Santuario de los Bancos de la Plata y de la Navidad)'' to protect the area as a safe haven for
sea mammals. On July 5, 1996, a Dominican presidential decree enlarged the area, declaring it the 'Sanctuary for Marine Mammals' ''(Santuario de Mamíferos Marinos)''.
The Silver Bank has long been a breeding and calving area for
humpback whale
The humpback whale (''Megaptera novaeangliae'') is a species of baleen whale. It is a rorqual (a member of the family Balaenopteridae) and is the monotypic taxon, only species in the genus ''Megaptera''. Adults range in length from and weigh u ...
s. As such, tourism centers around tours to
view the whales and other wildlife.
Just to the southeast is
Navidad Bank
Navidad Bank () is a submerged bank in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Dominican Republic and southeast of the Territory of Turks & Caicos. It is separated from Silver Bank by the wide Navidad Bank Passage.
Geography
Navidad Bank is a shallow und ...
, also under the jurisdiction of the Dominican Republic.
The Silver Bank, the
Navidad Bank
Navidad Bank () is a submerged bank in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Dominican Republic and southeast of the Territory of Turks & Caicos. It is separated from Silver Bank by the wide Navidad Bank Passage.
Geography
Navidad Bank is a shallow und ...
, as well as the
Mouchoir Bank
Mouchoir Bank, in Spanish language, Spanish also called ''Banco de Pañuelo Blanco'', is a submerged bank that is part of the Turks and Caicos Islands and falls within its exclusive economic zone.
The bank, located southeast of the Turks islan ...
further northwest, plus the Turks and Caicos Islands, are geographically considered a continuation of the
Lucayan Archipelago
The Lucayan Archipelago, also known as the Bahamian Archipelago, is an island group comprising the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The archipelago is in the western North Atlant ...
.
See also
*
Navidad Bank
Navidad Bank () is a submerged bank in the Atlantic Ocean north of the Dominican Republic and southeast of the Territory of Turks & Caicos. It is separated from Silver Bank by the wide Navidad Bank Passage.
Geography
Navidad Bank is a shallow und ...
References
External links
Sailing Directions, Caribbean Sea Vol. I
Landforms of the Dominican Republic
Undersea banks of the Atlantic Ocean
Treasure from shipwrecks
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