GEOGRAPHY. 45 



On the south side of this V the 100-fathom line hugs the north coast of 

 Haiti, but on the north side it sweeps northwestward about 40 kilometers 

 to the outer end of Monte Cristi Bank, a submerged platform that projects 

 from the mainland of the province of Monte Cristi. Manzanillo Bay, at 

 the head of this V-shaped deep, is one of the best harbors on the north coast 

 of the island. It is large and well protected, and its deep water extends 

 close up to the shore. The east and north shores of the bay, which are 

 formed by the delta of Rio Yaque del Norte, are low and swampy, and are 

 penetrated by several abandoned distributaries of the river. Manzanillo 

 Bay is now very little used, but when a railroad from Santiago is extended 

 to terminals on deep water, it should become the outlet for a large com- 

 merce. 



MONTE CRISTI BANK. 



Several islets on the submerged platform called the Monte Cristi Bank 

 now rise a few feet above sea level or lie awash, and an uplift of 40 meters 

 would convert the greater part of the bank into dry land. The sides of the 

 bank slope steeply into water exceeding in depth 100 fathoms (183 meters). 

 Off Monte Cristi the bank is about 22 kilometers wide, but it gradually 

 narrows eastward to Punta Rucia, some 50 kilometers from Monte Cristi, 

 where deep water extends close to shore. The delta of Rio Yaque del 

 Norte is gradually pushing westward across the Monte Cristi Bank. 

 Corals grow plentifully on much of the bank, and barrier reefs separated 

 from the shore by lagoons extend along part of its eastern end. 



Monte Cristi Bay is an open roadstead, sheltered from the trade winds by 

 Cabra Island and the headland of El Morro, a prominent butte 275 meters 

 high. As the water near the shore is too shallow for any but small boats , 

 sea-going vessels are compelled to anchor 2 or 3 kilometers out and transfer 

 their cargoes to lighters. 



The shore near Monte Cristi is low and shelving and is bordered by salt 

 marshes, which are protected from the sea by a low sand bar. South of the 

 town is the broad delta of Rio Yaque del Norte. The main channel of the 

 river is about 3 kilometers from the town, but old, abandoned distribu- 

 taries ramify across the delta to the south. The land back of the town 

 rises into a low, semicircular ridge, which leads northeastward to the 

 foothills of the Cordillera Septentrional, or Monte Cristi Range. El 

 Morro, nearly 5 kilometers north of Monte Cristi (PL II, B), is separated 

 from it by salt marshes. Flat terraces, some of them strewn with conch 

 shells, indicate relatively recent uplifts along this part of the coast. 



PUERTO PLATA BAY. 



The circular harbor of Puerto Plata indents the north shore of the Re- 

 public about 70 kilometers east of Monte Cristi. The harbor is entered 

 through a narrow channel between coral reefs that extend in a line of foam 

 from West Point, on the west, nearly across its entrance. The battered 



