Cay Sal

The island of Cay Sal from above

Cay Sal is a small island in the Cay Sal Bank between Florida, Cuba, and the Bahamas.

The Bahamas have an agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard to regularly fly over Cay Sal and other islands in the bank to look for people potentially stranded there.[1]

From the 1960s to late 1970's the Royal Bahamas Defense Force kept as small outpost on Cay Sal island, which also had an airstrip.[2] Another island in the banks, Elbow Cay (Cay Sal), has a lighthouse built in 1839 by the British.[3]

The United State's Coast Guard constantly monitors Cay Sal and nearby islands for refugees from Cuba.[4] Cay Sal is about thirty miles away from Cuba.[5] Refugees rescued on the island have included pregnant women and children. Refugees are reported to have employed a variety of craft including small, ill-equipped boats, in spite of the possibility of pursuit by the Cuban military.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Man rescued from Cay Sal Bank
  2. ↑ Cay Sal Bank Lighthouse: A Stately Ruin
  3. ↑ Cay Sal Bank Lighthouse: A Stately Ruin
  4. ↑ Rome News-Tribune - Apr 19, 1964
  5. ↑ Rome News-Tribune - Apr 19, 1964
  6. ↑ Rome News-Tribune - Apr 19, 1964

Coordinates: 23°42′N 80°24′W / 23.700°N 80.400°W