Country India Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) | State Maharashtra | |
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Angria Bank is a bank, a shallow sunken atoll, on the continental shelf off the west coast of India. It is located 105 kilometres (65 mi) west of Vijaydurg, Maharashtra.
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The name Angria Bank is derived from the name of one of the most successful Naval Admirals of Maratha King Chatrapati Shivaji viz. Kanhoji Angre, whose name was spelled Cunhojee Angria in British documents. Angre was based at Vijaydurg Fort and hence the name.
Geography
The bank is at a depth of 20.1 metres (66 ft), and its dimensions are 40 kilometres (25 mi) from north to south and 15 kilometres (9 mi) from east to west. It is a coral habitat. The bottom is composed of sand, shells, and coral. The bank is steep-to on all sides, with great depths surrounding it.
Angria Bank is 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Adas Bank, a similar submerged feature off the coast of Goa.
Tourism
As of 2008, Angria Bank is accessible by tourists by a two-hour boat ride from Malvan, Maharashtra. In 2008, Maharashtra state Finance Minister Jayant Patil announced a Rs 50 million initiative to explore Angria Bank to determine the feasibility of further marine tourism in the area.
The first ever underwater scientific expedition was carried out by well known marine biologist Sarang Kulkarni in April 2010. It revealed the high biodiversity of corals and associated flora and fauna of Angria Bank.