Bass Strait, Water strait between Tasmania and Victoria, Australia
The Bass Strait is a water channel between mainland Australia and Tasmania. It separates the Victorian coast in the north from Tasmania's northern shore across a width of around 240 kilometers.
Matthew Flinders named this waterway after George Bass in 1798 following their joint voyage around Tasmania, which confirmed its island status. Gas deposits discovered from 1965 onwards made the region Australia's first offshore production area.
The waterway takes its name from George Bass, a ship's surgeon and explorer whose voyages reshaped Australian coastal geography. Fishermen and mariners developed knowledge of currents and winds over generations, which still helps with navigation through these waters today.
Ferry connections cross the water channel regularly between Melbourne and northern Tasmania, both during the day and at night. The crossing takes several hours and can be demanding in wind and waves.
Underwater platforms stand on the seabed and have produced natural gas since the late 1960s, which is piped to shore. These installations fundamentally changed the economy of both coasts and still make the region an important energy supplier today.
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