Ladder Bay (Saba)

Last updated
Ladder Bay
Ladder Bay, Saba, with The Ladder and Old Customs House.jpg
Ladder Bay, with "The Ladder" and the old customs house above
Saba location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Ladder Bay
Location on Saba
Location Saba National Marine Park, Saba
Coordinates 17°38′2″N63°15′21″W / 17.63389°N 63.25583°W / 17.63389; -63.25583
Type Bay
Primary inflows Caribbean Sea
Max. depth80 ft (24 m) [1]
Settlements The Bottom

Ladder Bay is an anchorage on the leeward side of the Caribbean island of Saba. The bay sits on the west side of the island, directly under a set of 800 steps hand carved into the rocks locally known as "The Ladder". [2] [3] Until the construction of Saba's first pier in the 1970s, Ladder Bay was a primary point of entry for supplies to the island. [4] [3] [5] An abandoned customs house sits on the lip of a cliff overlooking the bay. [6] [7]

Contents

History

Before European colonization, the area above Ladder Bay may have been occupied by Amerindians during the Ceramic Era. [8] Archeologists have not yet found evidence of an Amerindian settlement above Ladder Bay, but they have found ceramic artifacts in the area. [8]

Saba was settled by Europeans in the mid-17th century. [9] There is long-standing documentation of early European settlements near Tent Bay, Fort Bay, and above Well's Bay. [9] [10] But more recently, archeologists have found 17th-century ceramics above Ladder Bay, suggesting the area may have been occupied during early years of European settlement. [8]

From the 1650s until the 1970s, the two primary ports of entry for Saba were at Ladder Bay and Fort Bay. [11] Boats could offload cargo at Ladder Bay, which would then be transported up "The Ladder", a series of steps carved into the ridge above Ladder Bay. [2] [9] The cargo would then be transported to Saba's capital, The Bottom, via a footpath through an area known as The Gap. [2]

Both cargo and people were brought onto Saba via The Ladder. [2] [9] [10] Even large items were transported up The Ladder, one of the most famous being a piano. [2] [12] [13]

In the 1930s, The Ladder in its current form, as well as the Customs House, were constructed. [2] [9] The steps of The Ladder were made of poured concrete, and the staircase walls from a mixture of concrete and rock. [2]

In the 1970s, the Capt. Chance Leo Pier was constructed at Fort Bay. With a harbor at Fort Bay, the use of Ladder Bay as a port fell out of use. [14] In 2017, the bottom 2 meters (6.5 ft) of The Ladder were severely damaged by Hurricane Maria.

Today, "The Ladder" is an iconic Saban monument [2] [15] and popular hiking location, [16] [17] and Ladder Bay is an official mooring area [18] and the site of multiple popular dive sites. [19]

Hiking

The Ladder (Trail): The trailhead is located between The Bottom and Well's Bay. [17] The trail goes past the old customs house, and descends all 800 steps of The Ladder, before coming back up. The strenuous hike takes about 1 hour round trip. [17] [20] The dry forest [21] portion of the trail includes diverse trees, including mahogany trees (e.g. Swietenia mahagoni ) and cinnamon trees ( Pimenta racemosa ). [22]

Middle Island Trail: The trail begins close to The Ladder trail, and has views of Well's Bay and Ladder Bay. [23] It is a heritage trail that includes ruins of an open cistern, stone walls of a farm, and a cavern. The hike takes about 40 minutes one-way. [24]

Diving

Mustardhill Coral (Porites astreoides) Porities.jpg
Mustardhill Coral ( Porites astreoides )

Ladder Bay is the location of multiple dive sites for scuba divers. [19]

At Babylon, Ladder Labyrinth, and 50/50, divers can place their hands on hot, sulfur-colored sand, resulting from the active status of Saba's volcano. [30] [26] [27] [29]

Marine life

Yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) 2017, cuba, jardines aggressor, finca de pepe, yellowfin grouper (37504673796).jpg
Yellowfin grouper ( Mycteroperca venenosa )

The bay is home to a variety of fish, including Burrfish, Chromis, Filefish, Glassy Sweepers, Horse-eye Jacks, Lancer Dragonets, Lizardfish, Peacock Flounders, Pikeblennies, Schoolmasters, Spotted Drums, Tarpons, Yellowfin Groupers, and Yellowhead Jawfish, as well as Nurse Sharks and Reef sharks. [25] [26] [27] [29]

Other marine life in Ladder Bay includes Channel Clinging Crabs, Green Turtles, Hawksbill Turtles, Spotted Moray Eels, Squat Lobster, and Tigertail Sea Cucumber. [25] [26] [27] [29]

Ladder Bay's reefs include a variety of coral. The most common are Star coral ( Astreopora), Brain coral, and Gorgonian ( Alcyonacea ) coral, [25] as well as Porites coral at the Porites Point dive site. [25] The bay is also home to sea fans such as Deepwater Seafans. [26]

Moorings

Saba has two designated anchorage zones within the Saba National Marine Park: one between Ladder Bay and Wells Bay (west coast), [18] and one in front of Fort Bay (southern coast). [18] Between Ladder Bay and Wells Bay, the Saba National Marine Park manages about half a dozen moorings [31] that are in about 60 feet (18 m) of water. The use of mooring buoys can help eliminator anchor damage to coral reefs. [18] [32] [33]

Passengers of moored boats are advised to enter the island via through Fort Bay Harbor for safety reasons. [18] [34] Additionally, passengers from arriving yachts are required to go to Fort Bay to clear Customs and Immigration, as well as to check in and out with the Saba's Harbor Master. [34]

In March 2017, a French-owned boat broke free of its mooring, and became stranded on the rocks in Ladder Bay. No one was aboard, and the boat was successfully salvaged a few days later. [35] [36] That same year another vessel ran aground at Ladder Bay; all passengers were unharmed. [37] In April 2023, a mooring holding a French charter boat broke off during the night while the crew was asleep. [ citation needed ] The crew was alerted and safely re-anchored, but only two visitor moorings remain. [ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonaire</span> Dutch Caribbean island

Bonaire is a Caribbean island in the Leeward Antilles, and is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Its capital is the port of Kralendijk, on the west (leeward) coast of the island. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao form the ABC islands, 80 km off the coast of Venezuela. The islands have an arid climate that attracts visitors seeking warm, sunny weather all year round, and they lie outside the Main Development Region for tropical cyclones. Bonaire is a popular snorkeling and scuba diving destination because of its multiple shore diving sites, shipwrecks and easy access to the island's fringing reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saba (island)</span> Dutch Caribbean island

Saba is a Caribbean island and the smallest special municipality of the Netherlands. It consists largely of the dormant volcano Mount Scenery, which at 887 metres (2,910 ft) is the highest point of the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. The island lies in the northern Leeward Islands portion of the West Indies, southeast of the Virgin Islands. Together with Bonaire and Sint Eustatius it forms the BES islands, also known as the Caribbean Netherlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgin Islands National Park</span> 14,700 acres in St. John, Virgin Islands (US) managed by the National Park Service

The Virgin Islands National Park is a national park of the United States preserving about 60% of the land area of Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as more than 5,500 acres of adjacent ocean, and nearly all of Hassel Island, just off the Charlotte Amalie, Saint Thomas harbor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bottom</span> Village in Saba, Dutch Caribbean

The Bottom is the capital and largest town of the island of Saba, the Caribbean Netherlands. It is the first stop on the way from Saba's Port in Fort Bay towards the rest of the island. In 2001, it had 462 inhabitants of the total 1,349 islanders. It is the administrative center of Saba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windwardside</span> Village in Saba, Dutch Caribbean

Windwardside is the second largest town on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba, aptly named for being on the windward side of the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Johns, Saba</span> Village in Saba, Dutch Caribbean

St. Johns is a settlement on the island of Saba, in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is located between the island's two largest settlements of The Bottom and Windwardside. St. Jhon's is the smallest of Saba's four villages, with a population of 186. The village was the birthplace of Cornelia Jones, the first woman to hold public office in the Windward Islands. It is the current location of Saba's primary and secondary schools, making it the center of the Island's education. It is also one of the island's seismic monitoring sites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Scenery</span> Volcano in the Caribbean Netherlands

Mount Scenery is a dormant volcano in the Caribbean Netherlands. Its lava dome forms the summit of the Saba island stratovolcano. At an elevation of 887 m (2,910 ft), it is the highest point in both the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and, since the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles on 10 October 2010, the highest point in the Netherlands proper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zion's Hill</span> Village in Saba, Dutch Caribbean

Zion's Hill, also known by its former name Hell's Gate, is a town on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba. Locally, it is divided into Upper Hell's Gate and Lower Hell's Gate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabrits National Park</span> National park in Dominica

Cabrits National Park is on a peninsula at the north end of the Caribbean island of Dominica, north of Portsmouth. The park protects tropical forest, coral reefs and wetlands. There are hiking trails and an English garrison called Fort Shirley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotts Head, Dominica</span>

Scotts Head is a village on the southwest coast of Dominica, in Saint Mark Parish. In 2001, its population was 721. Predominantly a fishing village, Scotts Head overlooks Soufrière Bay, which is protected as the Soufrière Scotts Head Marine Reserve. It is also a popular snorkelling and diving site for tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saba National Marine Park</span> Marine life protection zone around the island of Saba

The Saba National Marine Park encompasses the waters and sea bed encircling the Caribbean island of Saba, Caribbean Netherlands, from the high water mark to 200 feet (61 m) deep. In total, the marine park covers approximately 5 square miles (13 km2). At the time of its creation in 1987, the government passed the Marine Environment Ordinance to protect the coral reefs and other marine life within the park. The Saba Conservation Foundation manages the Saba National Marine Park, as well as the island's hyperbaric facility, and natural sites on land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saba Conservation Foundation</span> Non-governmental organisation

The Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) is a non-governmental organization that is concerned with the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the small Caribbean island of Saba, which is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Saba is part of the inner arc of the Leeward Islands chain of the Lesser Antilles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fort Bay</span> Port in Saba, Caribbean Netherlands

Fort Bay is the official and only port on the island of Saba, in the Caribbean Netherlands. It is located on the south side of the island, about 1 mile (1.6 km) by road from The Bottom. The port is very important for the island as most of its supplies arrive here by boat.

<i>Porites branneri</i> Species of coral

Porites branneri, known by the common name blue crust coral, is a species of stony coral in the family Poritidae. It is found growing on reefs in the Caribbean Sea and the northern and eastern coasts of South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of recreational dive sites</span> Hierarchical outline list of articles about rereational dive sites

Recreational dive sites are specific places that recreational scuba divers go to enjoy the underwater environment or for training purposes. They include technical diving sites beyond the range generally accepted for recreational diving. In this context all diving done for recreational purposes is included. Professional diving tends to be done where the job is, and with the exception of diver training and leading groups of recreational divers, does not generally occur at specific sites chosen for their easy access, pleasant conditions or interesting features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Road (Saba)</span> Primary road on Saba, Dutch Caribbean

The Road is the unofficial name for the cement road that connects the villages of Saba, Netherlands, a Caribbean island. It is nicknamed as "The Road That Couldn't Be Built." It is the primary road on the island, spanning 8.7 miles. It was constructed by local Sabans between 1938 and 1963, without the use of machines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flat Point Tide Pools</span> Natural tidal pools on Saba, Dutch Caribbean

The Flat Point Tide Pools are located on the coast of Saba, in the Dutch Caribbean. They are located on the Flat Point peninsula Lower Hell's Gate. These tide pools feature large lava rock formations filled with colorful saltwater pools. The site was formed during volcanic activity about 5,000 years ago. A large lava flow went down the northeast side of the island into the ocean, forming the Flat Point peninsula as it cooled. Today the Flat Point Tide Pools are home to diverse marine life, and are a popular hiking location. The site is accessible via the Flat Point Trail below Saba's airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flat Point</span> Peninsula on Saba, Dutch Caribbean

Flat Point is an area on the northeastern coast of Saba, an island in the Dutch Caribbean. It is located in the lower part of the Hell's Gate village, known as Lower Hell's Gate. Flat Point is the location of Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport, the Tide Pools, ruins of a 17th-18th century sugar and indigo plantation, and Cove Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cove Bay (Saba)</span> Bay in Flat Point, Saba

Cove Bay is a is coastal bay on the island of Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. It is located on the southeastern coast of the Flat Point peninsula, below the Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport and the Flat Point Tide Pools.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Well's Bay</span> Coastal bay in Saba, Caribbean Netherlands

Well's Bay is a coastal bay on the island of Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. It is located on the northwestern coast of the island. The bay is one of a few places for swimming on Saba. Sometimes Well's Bay has a small beach, known locally as the “wandering beach” due to the black sand that appears and disappears seasonally and sporadically.

References

  1. ↑ "Saba's Best Dive Sites | Ladder Labyrinth". Sea Saba.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Maritime Stepping Stones (MaSS): The Ladder/Ladder Bay". mass.cultureelerfgoed.nl. Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  3. 1 2 "The Ladder". Archive of posts from Saba-News.com. 2015-04-01. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  4. ↑ Cornell, Jimmy. World Cruising Destinations: An Inspirational Guide to all Sailing Destinations. Pg. 202.
  5. ↑ "Fort Bay Harbor | Maritime History". fort-bay-saba. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
  6. ↑ "About Saba: The Bottom". sabatourism.com. Saba Tourism. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  7. ↑ Bennett, Steve (2016-04-17). "Uncommon Caribbean - Anchored Off Ladder Bay, Saba: Wish You Were Here". www.uncommoncaribbean.com. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  8. 1 2 3 Espersen, Ryan (2019-01-01). "A Site Report of Flat Point, Saba, Dutch Caribbean: A Ceramic-Age Amerindian Site and Early Colonial Sugar and Indigo Plantation". Zemi Cultural Heritage Services Site Reports.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Hartog, Johannes (1975). History of Saba. Saba artisan foundation.
  10. 1 2 Crane, Julia G. (1971). Educated to Emigrate: The Social Organization of Saba. Round the World Publishing. ISBN   978-90-232-0702-3.
  11. ↑ "Saba Landings". The Saba Islander. 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Under the Sea Grape Tree". The Saba Islander. 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  13. ↑ Bendure, Glenda; Friary, Ned (1998). Eastern Caribbean. Lonely Planet. ISBN   978-0-86442-422-8.
  14. ↑ "Saba's Nature (PDF)" (PDF). sabapark.org. Saba Conservation Foundation.
  15. ↑ "See the Dutch island of Saba in the Caribbean (photos)". CNN. 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  16. ↑ "Hiking | Saba Tourism". 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  17. 1 2 3 "The Ladder | Saba Tourism". 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Saba Marine Park: Saba Mooring System". www.sabapark.org. Saba Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  19. 1 2 "Diving on Saba: Saba Dive Site Map". seasaba.org. Sea Saba Dive Center. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  20. ↑ "Plan your Hike". Saba Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  21. ↑ "Hiking on Saba". seasaba.org. Sea Saba Dive Center. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  22. ↑ "Plan your Hike". Saba Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  23. ↑ "Middle Island Trail". Saba Tourism. 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  24. ↑ "Hiking". Saba Tourism. 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 "Saba's Best Dive Sites: Porites Point (AKA Lou's Ladde)". seasaba. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Saba's Best Dive Sites: Babylon". seasaba. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "Saba's Best Dive Sites: Ladder Labyrinth". seasaba. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  28. ↑ O'Marra, Flash Parker with Chelsea. "Saba: A Caribbean island fit for a king". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  29. 1 2 3 4 "Saba's Best Dive Sites: 50/50". seasaba. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  30. ↑ "Dive Sites & Dive Operators". Saba Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  31. ↑ "Yachting & Mooring". Saba Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  32. ↑ "Anchor Damage Fact Sheet" (PDF). www.floridadep.gov. Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
  33. ↑ "Fort Bay Harbor | Facilities". fort-bay-saba. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  34. 1 2 "Check-in procedure & Coming Ashore". Saba Conservation Foundation. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
  35. ↑ "French yacht salvaged from the rocks in Ladder Bay - Updated - Saba News". Saba News. 18 March 2017. Archived from the original on 2019-06-01. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  36. ↑ Group, The Superyacht (2017-03-29). "Saba responds to yacht grounding - SuperyachtNews". Superyacht News. Retrieved 2024-01-22.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  37. ↑ "Wreckage of Yacht 'Elsa' Removed from Ladder Bay". The Daily Herald (SXM Talks). July 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.