What strait separates mainland Australia from the island of Tasmania?
Answer
Bass Strait
The strait separating mainland Australia from the island of Tasmania is Bass Strait.
Bass Strait lies between Tasmania and the coast of Victoria in southeastern Australia. It links waters around the Great Australian Bight and the Tasman Sea, and it is the main maritime approach to Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne.
The strait formed when sea levels rose at the end of the last glacial period, flooding the land bridge that once connected Tasmania to mainland Australia. European explorers named it after George Bass, an English naval surgeon and explorer who investigated the region in 1798.
Bass Strait is often confused with Torres Strait, which lies between northern Australia and New Guinea. Cook Strait, meanwhile, separates New Zealand’s North and South Islands, while Drake Passage lies between South America and Antarctica. Bass Strait is also known for strong winds, difficult seas, offshore islands, and important shipping and fishing grounds.