Bass Strait


Bass Strait

Strait separating mainland Australia from Tasmania. It is some 150 mi (240 km) wide at its widest point, about 185 mi (300 km) long, and 180–240 ft (55–75 m) deep. It was named in 1798 for the British surgeon-explorer George Bass. Development of its offshore petroleum resources began in the 1960s.

This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on Bass Strait, visit Britannica.com.

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