Cook Strait
Cook Strait (Māori: Te Moana-o-Raukawa) separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The strait connects the Tasman Sea on the northwest with the South Pacific Ocean on the southeast. It is 22 kilometres (14 mi) wide at its narrowest point, and is considered one of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world. Regular ferry services run across the strait between Picton in the Marlborough Sounds and Wellington.
| Cook Strait | |
|---|---|
| Māori: Te Moana-o-Raukawa | |
A view from the summit of Mount Kaukau across Cook Strait to the Marlborough Sounds in the distance. | |
Cook Strait Cook Strait separates the North and South islands of New Zealand. Cook Strait Cook Strait (Oceania) | |
| Coordinates | 41°13′46″S 174°28′59″E |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Min. width | 22 km (14 mi) |
| Average depth | 128 m (420 ft) |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Ship entering a Cook Strait swell – YouTube |
The strait is named after James Cook, the first European commander to sail through it, in 1770. In Māori it is named Te Moana-o-Raukawa, which means The Sea of Raukawa. Raukaua is a type of woody shrub native to New Zealand.
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