Tasman Sea

Tasman Sea

Location

Map of the Tasman Sea
Location Western Pacific Ocean
Coordinates 40°S 160°E / 40°S 160°E / -40; 160
Type Sea
Basin countries Australia, New Zealand
Max. length 2,800 km (1,700 mi)
Max. width 2,200 km (1,400 mi)
Islands Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island
Benches Lord Howe Rise
Settlements Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong, Auckland, Wellington
Satellite photo of the Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea (Māori: Te Tai-o-Rehua[1]) is a marginal sea of the South Pacific Ocean, situated between Australia and New Zealand. It measures about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) across and about 2,800 kilometres (1,700 mi) from north to south. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, who was the first recorded European to encounter New Zealand and Tasmania. The British explorer Captain James Cook later extensively navigated the Tasman Sea in the 1770s as part of his first voyage of exploration.[2]

The Tasman Sea is informally referred to in both Australian and New Zealand English as The Ditch; for example, crossing the Ditch means travelling to Australia from New Zealand, or vice versa. The diminutive term "The Ditch" used for the Tasman Sea is comparable to referring to the North Atlantic Ocean as "The Pond".

Geography

Extent

The International Hydrographic Organization defines the limits of the Tasman Sea as follows:[3]

On the West. A line from Gabo Island (near Cape Howe, 37°30'S) to the Northeast point of East Sister Island (148°E) thence along the 148th meridian to Flinders Island; beyond this Island a line running to the Eastward of the Vansittart Shoals to [Cape] Barren Island, and from Cape Barren (the Easternmost point of [Cape] Barren Island) to Eddystone Point (41°S) in Tasmania, thence along the East coast to South East Cape, the Southern point of Tasmania.

On the North. The parallel of 30°S from the Australian coast Eastward as far as a line joining the East extremities of Elizabeth Reef and South East Rock (31°47′S 159°18′E / 31.783°S 159.300°E / -31.783; 159.300) then to the Southward along this line to the South East Rock [an outlier of Lord Howe Island].

On the Northeast. From the South East Rock to the North point of Three Kings Islands (34°10′S 172°10′E / 34.167°S 172.167°E / -34.167; 172.167) thence to North Cape in New Zealand.

On the East.

On the Southeast. A line running from South West Cape, Stewart Island, through The Snares (48°S, 166°30'E) to North West Cape, Auckland Island (50°30′S 166°10′E / 50.500°S 166.167°E / -50.500; 166.167), through this island to its Southern point.

On the South. A line joining the Southern point of Auckland Island (50°55′S 166°0′E / 50.917°S 166.000°E / -50.917; 166.000) to South East Cape, the Southern point of Tasmania.

Ridge

Smoke from the Black Saturday bushfires crosses the southern Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea's mid-ocean ridge developed between 85 and 55 million years ago as Australia and Zealandia broke apart during the breakup of supercontinent Gondwana. It lies roughly midway between the continental margins of Australia and Zealandia. Much of Zealandia is submerged, so the ridge runs much closer to the Australian coast than New Zealand's.

Islands

The Tasman Sea features a number of mid-sea island groups, quite apart from coastal islands located near the Australian and New Zealand mainlands:

Adjoining bodies of water

History

Moncrieff and Hood were the first to attempt to a Trans-Tasman crossing by plane in 1928. The first successful flight over the sea was accomplished by Charles Kingsford Smith later that year. The first person to row solo across the sea was Colin Quincey in 1977. The next successful solo crossing was completed by his son, Shaun Quincey in 2010.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rāwiri Taonui. Tapa whenua – naming places – Events, maps and European influences, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Ministry for Culture and Heritage. ISBN 978-0-478-18451-8. Updated 1 March 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2011
  2. ↑ "Tasman Sea". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Limits of Oceans and Seas, 3rd edition" (PDF). International Hydrographic Organization. 1953. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  4. ↑ Anne Barrowclough (14 March 2010). "Kiwi becomes second person to row across the Tasman Sea". Times Online (Times Newspapers). Retrieved 22 May 2011.

External links

Media related to Tasman Sea at Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates: 40°S 160°E / 40°S 160°E / -40; 160

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