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Foveaux Strait separates Stewart Island/Rakiura, New Zealand's third largest island, from the South Island.[1] Three large bays, Te Waewae Bay, Oreti Beach and Toetoes Bay, sweep along the strait's northern coast, which also hosts Bluff township and harbour. Across the strait lie the Solander Islands, Stewart Island/Rakiura and Ruapuke Island. The strait is about 130 km long (from Ruapuke Island to Little Solander Island), and it widens (from 14 km at Ruapuke Island to 50 km at Te Waewae Bay) and deepens (from 20 to 120 m) from east to west.
Its European discoverer was Owen Folger Smith, who found it in 1804. The strait is named after Joseph Foveaux, Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales at the time.
The strait is a rough and often treacherous stretch of water. In 2006, six muttonbirders died when their trawler sank while returning to Bluff. During the previous ten years, another six incidents occurred in the Strait, costing eight lives.[2]
References
- ^ "Place Name Detail: Foveaux Strait". New Zealand Geographic Placenames Database. Land Information New Zealand. http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/find-names/topographic-names-db/database/index.aspx?p=2433. Retrieved on 2009-03-28.
- ^ Steere, Mike (2006-05-15). "Fierce stretch of water takes toll". Southland Times (Fairfax Media). http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3667964a11,00.html. Retrieved on 2006-05-15.
Coordinates: 46°40′S 168°11′E / 46.67°S 168.18°E
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