Agulhas Bank

Agulhas Bank
Map of the Agulhas Bank centred on the Outeniqua Basin
Ecology
Realm	Temperate Southern Africa
Geography
Area	116,000 km2 (45,000 sq mi)
Country	South Africa
Elevation	-50 to -200 m
Coordinates	34°42′33.1″S 22°28′12.4″E / 34.709194°S 22.470111°E / -34.709194; 22.470111
Oceans or seas	Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean

The Agulhas Bank (/əˈɡʌləs/, from Portuguese for Cape Agulhas, Cabo das Agulhas, "Cape of Needles")^[1] is a broad, shallow part of the southern African continental shelf which extends up to 250 km (160 mi) south of Cape Agulhas before falling steeply to the abyssal plain.

It is the ocean region where the warm Indian Ocean and the cold Atlantic Ocean meet. This convergence leads to treacherous sailing conditions, accounting for numerous wrecked ships in the area over the years. However, the meeting of the oceans here also fuels the nutrient cycle for marine life, making it one of the best fishing grounds in South Africa.