Tasman Sea: location, climate, flora and fauna

The Tasman Sea, located in the southern hemisphere, is unique in many respects. This is the location, and the different climate, and a very diverse plant and animal world. Let's analyze the main features of the reservoir, tell about the features of the flora and fauna.

Location Features

Speaking about the location and answering the question of which ocean the Tasman Sea belongs to, it can be clearly determined that it is the southernmost of the entire Pacific basin. The shores of Australia and New Zealand are washed by the Tasman Sea.

Its position is unique, because the reservoir crosses several climatic zones. The issue with borders is also interesting. If you outline them from the north, then it will be the Australian state of New South Wales. But the extreme southern point is rather arbitrary: it is customary to call the Macquarie Ridge, as well as the west coast of New Zealand. What is it, the Tasman Sea: internal or marginal? From the geographical position it is clear that it is not one of them, but refers to inter-island ones, those that are separated from the seas by a chain of archipelagoes.

If you look at the map, you can see that the Tasman Sea is a large rhombus connecting two continents.

Near the Tasman Sea there is one more - Coral. It ishes Australia and reaches the shores of New Guinea. Which sea is located to the north: Coral or Tasmanovo? Of course, the first. After all, Tasmanovo is the southernmost of all the Pacific. Separate the seas are numerous coral reefs, islands and a significant rise in the seabed. Norfolk Island is a conventional, most northern point of the border between the seas.

Characteristics

Particularly impressive is its characteristics of the Tasman Sea. Its area is almost 3.5 million square kilometers.

The Tasman Sea impresses with its depth. In a place called the Tasman Basin, the depth reaches, and sometimes exceeds six thousand meters.

The sea is a large number of islands. Perhaps the most famous of them is Tasmania - an island located south of Australia for 240 kilometers. It is located on a geologically active site (scientists believe that at one time Tasmania was part of the Australian continent, however, it separated due to certain processes). Now this is the largest territory of the Australian reserves, because there are unique animals. The most famous is the Tasmanian devil.

It should also be said about the Reef Island Bol-Pyramid. It is a huge rock, which rises almost 600 meters above sea level. The width is 200 meters.

The Tasman Sea harbors islands with a unique indigenous population. So, on the island of Lord Howe there are only 400 people. This ancient island is located at an impressive distance from New Zealand.

It should be said about the coastline. It has a smooth edging all over. Thus, it is difficult to find bays or coves on the Tasman Sea. In the coastal waters, the sandy bottom predominates, and at the bottom the main rocks are clay and it is mixed with sand.

History of the discovery

The Tasman Sea was discovered in 1640 by Abel Tasman. Dutch explorer-navigator arrived here before the famous James Cook for 100 years.

About this part of the World Ocean there was practically no information. People did not even know what the mainland Australia was. Whether it is or is a disparate island. Tasman was the first who cited evidence of the integrity of Australia, also discovered Tasmania, Fiji and New Zealand.

Secured his findings a century later, James Cook. He outlined the eastern outlines of Australia, explored New Zealand in more detail. Thus, the Tasman Sea began to be fixed on the maps.

Climate

Three belts pass through the Tasman Sea: tropical, subtropical and temperate. They are changed from north to south. Accordingly, the climate differs depending on the belt.

Also on the weather conditions affect the flow. Warm, for example, East Australian, helps water to warm up to +26 degrees. In the southern part of the sea, cool currents prevail. They are so cold that they often bring parts of icebergs. Thus, here the water is not particularly warm - only +5 - +9 degrees in winter.

The sea is characterized by abundant tides, which sometimes reach five meters. It also differs from the increased storm activity (due to all the winds coming from the Pacific Ocean). In this respect, 40-50-degree latitudes are particularly noteworthy. But for the most part shipping on the Tasman Sea is very favorable.

Inhabitants of the northern part

The location of the reservoir in several climatic zones has certainly affected its inhabitants. In the northern waters, where the heat is high enough, tropical marine inhabitants live. Particularly notable among them are sharks, flying fish and mammals, mostly whales.

In the Tasman Sea, a large number of species of sharks live, especially a large white one. Many tourists are frightened by its massive fins, towering above the water. Particularly bold visitors to the water area descend under the water in a specially equipped diving cage and enjoy these chilling dwellers in their natural environment.

Flying fish are another unique creature that lives in the warm waters of the Tasman Sea. These fish are very impressive sizes, sometimes reach a half-meter in length. Having four fins, they can jump out of the water for quite serious distances. The length of the flight over the surface depends directly on the speed gained in the water column.

Cetaceans in the northern part of the Tasman Sea are marked by killer whales, sperm whales and whale whales. They appeared here not accidentally - this is due to the settling of zooplankton in the water. Observing the feeding of cetaceans in natural conditions is another popular activity offered to tourists.

Flora and fauna in the south

As for the southern areas of the reservoir, the climate here is moderate, so the algae also grow in larger numbers than in the northern ones.

Cold currents do not affect the abundance of fish in the southern part of the reservoir. Inhabit mainly flock breeds, so the impression of a more massive accumulation of fish. Here there are well-developed industries: they catch tuna, horse mackerel, mackerel, flounder and other species.