Adolphus Channel
Adolphus Channel | |
---|---|
Adolphus Channel | |
Location | Northern Australia |
Coordinates | 10°41′20″S 142°36′51″E / 10.688958°S 142.614167°ECoordinates: 10°41′20″S 142°36′51″E / 10.688958°S 142.614167°E |
Type | Channel |
Part of | Torres Strait |
Ocean/sea sources | Coral Sea, South Pacific Ocean |
Basin countries | Australia |
Managing agency | Torres Strait Island Region |
Islands |
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The Adolphus Channel is a channel located in the Torres Strait, situated northeast of Cape York, in Queensland, Australia.
Geography[]
The channel runs north of the Albany Island, one of the islands of the Manar group of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago, and to the south of Mount Adolphus Island.[1][2]
It is about 7 km (4.3 mi) across at its narrowest point, mostly less than about 20 m (66 ft) in depth and opens towards the west (into the Torres Strait) and towards the east (into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon). Submarine dunes (sand waves) up to 5 m (16 ft)tall migrate along the Adolphus Channel seabed, posing a potential risk to safe navigation.[3]
Much of the area has dual naming with traditional names from the Torres Strait Islander people.[2]
Shipping use[]
Adolphus Channel is a major shipping route for traffic passing from the eastern (Coral Sea) coast of Australia to the Gulf of Carpentaria, Arafura Sea and regions further west.[3]
History[]
On the night of 28 February 1890, the Royal Mail Ship RMS Quetta struck a rock and sank in Adolphus Channel, sending 134 of her passengers to their deaths.[4]
Manar islands[]
Adjacent to the channel are the Manar group of islands, part of the Torres Strait Islands archipelago, comprising:
- Albany Island
- Bush Islet
- Eborac Island[5]
- Ida Island
- Mai Islet
- Middle Brother Islet
- Tree Island
Ida Island is north and adjacent to Muddy Bay, while the remaining islets are adjacent to Pioneer Bay on the north east coast of Albany Island.[2]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Harris, P. T.; Schneider, P. M.; Baker, E. K. (1988). Currents, sedimentation and sandwave migration in the Great North East Channel and Adolphus Channel areas of Torres Strait: report on measurements taken during HMAS Cook cruises. Ocean Sciences Institute. Sydney, NSW: The University of Sydney.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Taranto; Jacobs; Long. "Map 4: Adolphus channel" (PDF) (Map). TORRES STRAIT ATLAS – REPORT MR-GIS 97/6. CSIRO Marine research. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Harris, P.T., 1989. Sandwave movement under tidal and wind-driven currents in a shallow marine environment: Adolphus Channel, northeastern Australia. Continental Shelf Research 9, 981-1002
- ^ "The tragic tale of the Quetta". Torres News. Queensland, Australia. 30 July 2012. p. 10. Retrieved 23 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Eborac Island gecko". The Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
Further reading[]
- Gadke, Christopher (2001). The architecture of the Torres Strait Islands : from the vernacular to the 'South Sea' type [St. Lucia, Qld.]
- Torres Strait channels and passages