Backstairs Passage

Backstairs Passage
Location of Backstairs Passage between the eastern end of Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula
Backstairs Passage is located in South Australia
Backstairs Passage
Backstairs Passage
Location in South Australia
LocationSouth Australia
Coordinates35°41′1″S 138°4′23″E / 35.68361°S 138.07306°E / -35.68361; 138.07306
Typestrait
Basin countriesAustralia
Max. depth73 metres (240 ft)
IslandsThe Pages
SettlementsCape Jervis, Penneshaw

Backstairs Passage is a narrow sea channel (strait) in South Australia. It lies between the Fleurieu Peninsula on the mainland and Dudley Peninsula on Kangaroo Island. The western side of the passage is a line from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula to Kangaroo Head on Kangaroo Island. A group of small islands called The Pages is at the eastern entrance of the passage. The passage is about 14 km (8.7 mi) wide at its narrowest point. It was made about 13,000 years ago when the sea level rose and covered the land that once connected Kangaroo Island to the mainland. Matthew Flinders named Backstairs Passage in 1802 while exploring South Australia's coast.

Name

Matthew Flinders named it Backstairs Passage on April 7, 1802. He said it was like a private entrance to two big bays, so he called it "Back-stairs Passage."

History

The water movements in Gulf St Vincent and near the Fleurieu Peninsula are complicated. Because the Gulf is shallow and connects to the deep Backstairs Passage, the passage has strong currents, big waves, and rough seas. Many ships were wrecked here in the early days after Europeans settled in Australia. Because of this danger, South Australia’s first lighthouse, called Sturt Light, was built in 1851 at Cape Willoughby on Kangaroo Island. Ships using strong winds called the Roaring Forties sometimes got pushed into Backstairs Passage or even as far as Bass Strait.

On June 6, 1995, Andrew Martin became the first person to swim alone across Backstairs Passage. He swam 14.25 km (8.85 mi) in 4 hours and 31 minutes.

Shipwrecks

2005 Sea kayaking accident

On July 30, 2005, two inexperienced sea kayakers drowned in Backstairs Passage.

Protected areas

There are several protected parks near the passage:

References

  1. ↑ DMH, 1985, chart 12
  2. ↑ Flinders (1966) [1814], p. 262
  3. ↑ Australian Hydrographic Service; Cooper, A. H (2006), Australia - south coast, Port Adelaide to Backstairs Passage (Notices to Mariners inclusive to 2006 ed.), Published by the Australian Hydrographic Service, 28th May 1958, under the superintendence of Commander A.H. Cooper, R.A.N, archived from the original on 25 February 2024, retrieved 12 April 2017
  4. ↑ "Kangaroo Island Heritage Survey 1991" (PDF). Department of Environment: heritage surveys. Government of South Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Bound for South Australia". State Library of South Australia: South Australian State Records. Government of South Australia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Bye, John A. T. and Carvalho Junior, Oldemar. The first recorded successful cross Backstairs Passage swim: research note [Andrew Martin's swim is a unique entry in the annals of South Australian exploration.] [online]. South Australian Geographical Journal, Vol. 95, 1996: 70-74.
  7. ↑ Coroneos (1997), p. 57
  8. ↑ Coroneos (1997), pp. 75-76
  9. ↑ "Australian National Shipwreck Database". environment.gov.au. Retrieved 12 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ Coroneos (1997), pp. 80-82
  11. ↑ Coroneos (1997), pp. 91-92
  12. ↑ Coroneos (1997), pp. 95-96
  13. ↑ Coroneos (1997), p. 97
  14. ↑ "Australian National Shipwreck Database". environment.gov.au. Retrieved 12 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
  15. ↑ Carter, Peter. "Paddling Backstairs Passage". Peter Carter's Home Page. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  16. ↑ Island conservation parks of Backstairs Passage and Encounter Bay management plans (PDF). Adelaide: National Parks and Wildlife Service. 1983. pp. 1–3. ISBN 0-7243-4588-4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  17. ↑ "Baudin Conservation Park". Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  18. ↑ "Lashmar Conservation Park". Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  19. ↑ "Cape Willoughby Conservation Park". Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 29 March 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  20. ↑ "Deep Creek Conservation Park". Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "Newland Head Conservation Park". Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  22. ↑ "Encounter Marine Park Management plan summary" (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. p. 2 of 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

Sources