Speakers Bank
Speakers Bank is a large coral atoll structure in the north-western part of the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory. It is the northernmost feature of the archipelago, lying 14 miles north-west of Blenheim Reef: it extends 27 miles north-east to south-west, and 15 miles wide. The total area is 225 square miles,[1] most of which is water. Most of the rim of the reef is between 18 feet and 48 feet below water.
- Location map: 4°55’0"N, 72°19’60"E
In the south, near the south-west edge, there are some coral heads at 5°4’0"N, 72°16’0"E, two feet of which are dry during low tide, and over which the sea breaks heavily during the south-east trade winds. In the north-east, at 4°46’60"N, 72°25’60"E, are a number of drying cays, the biggest of which, Big Speaker Reef, just reaches the high water mark. The land area is negligible.
Speakers Bank was surveyed in 1856 by Captain J. Speaker on HMS Wallerup. It is the site of many wrecks, also from prior times.[2]
Outside links
References
- ↑ Geosociety
- ↑ British Admiralty nautical chart 11000030 - 3 Chagos Archipelago, Scale 1:360 000
| Atolls of the Chagos Islands; British Indian Ocean Territory |
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Atolls with land area: |