The Adolphus Channel is a channel located in the Torres Strait, situated northeast of Cape York, in Queensland, Australia.
| Adolphus Channel | |
|---|---|
  Adolphus Channel | |
 A map of the Torres Strait Islands, with the Adolphus Channel located south of Mount Adolphus Island in the Torres Strait | |
| Location | Northern Australia |
| Coordinates | 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 |
|
Geography
editThe 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
editAdolphus 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
editOn 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]
Islands
editAdjacent to the channel are a 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
edit
References
edit- ^ 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. Sydney, NSW: The University of Sydney.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ a b c Taranto; Jacobs; Long. "Map 4: Adolphus channel" (PDF) (Map). Torres Strait Atlas – Report MR-GIS 97/6. CSIRO Marine research. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Eborac Island gecko". The Australian Reptile Online Database. Stewart Macdonald. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
Further reading
edit- Gadke, Christopher (2001). The architecture of the Torres Strait Islands : from the vernacular to the 'South Sea' type [St. Lucia, Qld.]