# can anyone identify this island? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085 "2017-09-23T19:06:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/1 "2017-09-23T19:06:39Z")
14.288307, -80.363492 https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=14.2872005,-80.3657176&z=16&output=embed&dg=ntvb It’s about 150 miles east of Nicaragua, in the Caribbean. Google maps shows nothing there; change to satellite view and it’s a large reef with a few scattered islands, just dots really. But at the coordinates there’s a larger island, unidentified, with a few trails running across it, and a man-made circle of _something_ near the beach. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/2 "2017-09-23T19:11:58Z")
The circle looks like it could be a helipad for the house to the west. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/3 "2017-09-23T19:13:58Z")
It’s the tropical paradise of **Copyright Trap**. Seriously though, the second time I clicked on the link, my computer froze up. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/4 "2017-09-23T19:14:07Z")
That is Southwest Cay, a part of the [Serrana Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrana_Bank). It is Colombian territory. ETA: As the Wiki link notes, it was claimed by the United States until 1981 when the States relinquished its claim. There used to be a US military base but likely not much left there since Hurricane Felix passed over as a Cat 5 in 2007. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/5 "2017-09-23T19:30:55Z")
ETA: Ninja’d by **Iggy**. Good job. I have a 1980s Britannica Atlas that says the island and associated atoll is collectively “Serrana Bank”. Even farther to the NE is a lesser gathering of islets labeled “Serranilla Bank”. That same map shows a number of other minor atolls and islands within a couple hundred miles. All of these islet formations belong to Colombia. I’ve flow through San Andres & overflown Providencia nearby. San Andres is the namesake island for the Colombian Department of San Andres, etc: [Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archipelago_of_San_Andr%C3%A9s,_Providencia_and_Santa_Catalina) So that’s not a complete answer, but it’ll maybe get us closer. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/6 "2017-09-23T19:55:44Z")
Interesting. - those aren’t trails, they are roads, wide enough for two vehicles to pass. - there’s a communications tower at the narrowest part of the neck at the South West. - there are two very odd camouflaged triangle-shaped clearings at 14.286907, -80.364106 - at 14.286051, -80.363813 there is what looks like an old landing strip being slowly overgrown. There are quite a few buildings scattered about, some haven’t been driven to in years, but the approaching roads have been maintained. Given the locale, I wouldn’t say any of it has been overgrown since 2007 though. We’d need different technology to see much of anything after ten years. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/7 "2017-09-23T21:51:22Z")
Which side of Central America was Jurassic Park on again? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/8 "2017-09-23T21:52:00Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Which side of Central America was Jurassic Park on again? West side. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/9 "2017-09-23T22:19:52Z")
Thanks, gang! I wonder why it’s such a non-entity on Google maps. Time to go dig some more now that I have that info to build on. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/10 "2017-09-23T23:08:18Z")
Looks like there might be a vehicle at the house. And how about the two “C” shaped items on the beach near the house? If you look closely at the fog covered area, there seems to be a 30 foot high wooden wall cutting off the end of the island… Dennis ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/11 "2017-09-23T23:42:16Z")
Come on guys, can’t you recognize the lair of an Evil Overlord™ when you see one? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2017, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/12 "2017-09-23T23:51:10Z")
ETA: Crap. ninja’d. > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > … > I wonder why it’s such a non-entity on Google maps. > … Modern Goldfingers don’t like it when you publicize their secret private lair. Ref **mixdenny** , who’s to say that cloud cover on the northeast end is natural? Good thing you too have a heavily defended citadel to retreat to. Shame about your family though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/13 "2017-09-24T00:26:43Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Interesting. > > - those aren’t trails, they are roads, wide enough for two vehicles to pass. > - there’s a communications tower at the narrowest part of the neck at the South West. > - there are two very odd camouflaged triangle-shaped clearings at 14.286907, -80.364106 > - at 14.286051, -80.363813 there is what looks like an old landing strip being slowly overgrown. > > There are quite a few buildings scattered about, some haven’t been driven to in years, but the approaching roads have been maintained. Given the locale, I wouldn’t say any of it has been overgrown since 2007 though. We’d need different technology to see much of anything after ten years. Here’s photos of the Serrana Bank island. > **[sanandresislas - SERRANA](https://sanandresislas.es.tl/SERRANA.htm)** > > san andres islas y providencia What you can see … NO ROADS. They are just sand trails. The sand spreads out and makes it seem wider, the vegetation comes and goes with the sand… but definitely no one ever put down a sealed road, or even a crushed rock road there. No permanantly situated vehicles drive those trails. ( Maybe someone had a jeep or motorbike… who is to say it didn’t happen. But there’s nothing there to indicate even a garage) The loss during Hurricane Felix was the thatched shelter where tourist group would get out of the sun ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/14 "2017-09-24T00:44:18Z")
Good find **Isilder**. Note the comments at the bottom. The most recent post is only ~35 days ago by someone who visited the island last year as a part of a biosciences expedition. No mention of secret volcano lairs, nor unexpected space launch facilities. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/15 "2017-09-24T00:45:06Z")
Thanks, **Isilder**! That made for an interesting read, and it was nice to see some pics. I don’t know what fascinates me about remote islands, but I’d love to explore a few firsthand. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/16 "2017-09-24T01:05:22Z")
Here’s a nice pic of [Southwest Cay](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ochnJu0sbiw/ULREKFXyHLI/AAAAAAAAMwo/Y1WMbVhrHUM/s1600/By+Ignacio+Greiffenstein+%25282%2529.JPG) that I found via the above link. It looks like the island visitor also took pics of a lot of other local cays. Looks like paradise! ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/17 "2017-09-24T04:58:20Z")
I’m going to need everyone in this thread to pay attention to what is in my hand. That’s right. Look right here… ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/18 "2017-09-24T05:45:35Z")
[Here’s some photos from 1970](http://hamgallery.com/qsl/deleted/SerranaBank/w9fiu.htm) of people on the island, possibly henchmen. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/19 "2017-09-24T06:00:42Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > All of these islet formations belong to Colombia. I’ve flow through San Andres & overflown Providencia nearby. San Andres is the namesake island for the Colombian Department of San Andres, etc: I’ve been to San Andres and Providencia, too–during Semana Santa once when I lived in Colombia. (It’s a common vacation spot for Colombians.) I knew there were some other islands in the department, but could never figure out if people lived there. San Andres and Providencia are interesting, because Pilgrims went there, too–not just to New England. (Hence the name “Providencia.”) Because the colonies there were administered so differently, however, the pilgrim colonies on these islands didn’t last so long. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085/20 "2017-09-24T15:34:38Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > [Here’s some photos from 1970](http://hamgallery.com/qsl/deleted/SerranaBank/w9fiu.htm) of people on the island, possibly henchmen. Even henchmen like to dive and eat seafood, it seems. 😉 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-identify-this-island/797085.md?page=2)