# Investigator Strait

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Body of water in South Australia

Investigator Strait Investigator Strait is the body of water between Yorke Peninsula (i.e. the central land mass) and Kangaroo Island Investigator Strait Location Australia Coordinates 35°24′S 137°36′E / 35.4°S 137.6°E / -35.4; 137.6 Basin countries Australia Max. length 135.3 km (84.1 mi)[1] Max. width 48 km (30 mi)[1] Surface area 6,100 km2 (2,400 sq mi)[2] Average depth 34 m (112 ft)[2] Max. depth 75 m (246 ft)[2] Islands Althorpes Chinamans Hat Haystack Seal Settlements Marion Bay, Stenhouse Bay, Cape Jervis, Stokes Bay, Emu Bay

**Investigator Strait** is a body of water in [South Australia](/source/South_Australia) lying between the [Yorke Peninsula](/source/Yorke_Peninsula), on the [Australian](/source/Australia) mainland, and [Kangaroo Island](/source/Kangaroo_Island). It was named by [Matthew Flinders](/source/Matthew_Flinders) after his ship, [HMS *Investigator*](/source/HMS_Investigator_(1798)), on his voyage of 1801–1802. It is bordered by the [Gulf St Vincent](/source/Gulf_St_Vincent) in the northeast.

## Discovery and exploration

It was named Investigator’s Strait by Flinders on Monday 29 March 1802.[3]: 256

## Extent

Investigator Strait is bounded by Yorke Peninsula to its north and by Kangaroo Island to its south. Flinders identified its boundaries with the following adjoining bodies of water - [Gulf St Vincent](/source/Gulf_St_Vincent) and [Backstairs Passage](/source/Backstairs_Passage). The Strait’s boundary with [Gulf St Vincent](/source/Gulf_St_Vincent) is the line from [Troubridge Point](/source/Troubridge_Point) on Yorke Peninsula to [Cape Jervis](/source/Cape_Jervis_(headland)) on Fleurieu Peninsula.[2] Its boundary with [Backstairs Passage](/source/Backstairs_Passage) is the line from [Cape Jervis](/source/Cape_Jervis_(headland)) on [Fleurieu Peninsula](/source/Fleurieu_Peninsula) to [Kangaroo Head](/source/Kangaroo_Head) (west of [Penneshaw](/source/Penneshaw)) on Kangaroo Island. Flinders noted that Backstairs Passage is a body of water separate to Investigator Strait.[3]: 262 The boundary between the strait and [Nepean Bay](/source/Nepean_Bay) on the north-east coast of Kangaroo Island is a line between [Point Marsden](/source/Point_Marsden) and Kangaroo Head.[4] The Strait’s western boundary by definition is the line from [Cape Spencer](/source/Cape_Spencer_(South_Australia)) on Yorke Peninsula to [Cape Borda](/source/Cape_Borda) on Kangaroo Island.

## Protected areas

A number of [protected areas](/source/Protected_areas) are located both within and adjoining the Strait’s extent.

### Aquatic reserves

- [Troubridge Hill](/source/Troubridge_Hill_Aquatic_Reserve) west of [Troubridge Point](/source/Troubridge_Point) on the south coast of Yorke Peninsula.[5]

### Marine parks

- [Southern Spencer Gulf Marine Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Spencer_Gulf_Marine_Park&action=edit&redlink=1) - the west end of the strait including the coasts of both Yorke Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.[6]

- [Lower Yorke Peninsula Marine Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lower_Yorke_Peninsula_Marine_Park&action=edit&redlink=1) - east end of the strait adjoining the south coast of Yorke Peninsula.[7]

- [Western Kangaroo Island Marine Park](/source/Western_Kangaroo_Island_Marine_Park) - west end of the strait adjoining the north coast of Kangaroo Island.[8]

- [Encounter Marine Park](/source/Encounter_Marine_Park) covers the east end of the strait including its boundaries with Nepean Bay and Backstairs Passage.[9]

### National parks and other reserves

The following reserves are located on the south coast of Yorke Peninsula (from west to east):

- [Innes National Park](/source/Innes_National_Park) (includes Chinamans Hat Island)[10]

- [Point Davenport Conservation Park](/source/Point_Davenport_Conservation_Park)[11]

The following reserves are located on the north coast of Kangaroo Island (from west to east):

- [Flinders Chase National Park](/source/Flinders_Chase_National_Park)[12]

- [Cape Torrens Wilderness Protection Area](/source/Cape_Torrens_Wilderness_Protection_Area)[13]

- [Western River Wilderness Protection Area](/source/Western_River_Wilderness_Protection_Area)[13]

The following reserve is located on Althorpe Islands, Haystack Island and Seal Island at the north-west end of the strait:

- [Althorpe Islands Conservation Park](/source/Althorpe_Islands_Conservation_Park)[14]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-B1762_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-B1762_1-1) Hydrographic Department, Ministry of Defence (1983). *Gulf of St Vincent and approaches (chart no. 1762)*. – reproduced by the Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bye_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bye_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bye_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Bye_2-3) Bye, J.A.T. (1976): Physical oceanography of Gulf St Vincent and Investigator Strait. In: [Twidale, C.R.](/source/Charles_Rowland_Twidale), Tyler, M.J. & Webb, B.P. (Eds.), *Natural history of the Adelaide Region*. Royal Society of SA Inc, Adelaide. pp. 143.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-fli66_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-fli66_3-1) [Flinders, Matthew](/source/Matthew_Flinders) (1966) [1814]. *A Voyage to Terra Australis: Undertaken for the Purpose of Completing the Discovery of that Vast Country, and Prosecuted in the Years 1801, 1802, and 1803, in His Majesty's Ship the Investigator*. Adelaide: Libraries Board of South Australia. [LCCN](/source/LCCN_(identifier)) [66070225](https://lccn.loc.gov/66070225). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [4565366](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/4565366). [OL](/source/OL_(identifier)) [38607138M](https://openlibrary.org/books/OL38607138M). [Wikidata](/source/WDQ_(identifier)) [Q133875246](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133875246).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Pub175_4-0)** [*Sailing Directions (Enroute),*Pub. 175:*North, West, and South Coasts of Australia*](https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download?key=16694491/SFH00000/Pub175bk.pdf&type=view) (PDF). *[Sailing Directions](/source/Sailing_Directions)*. [United States National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency](/source/National_Geospatial-Intelligence_Agency). 2017. p. 215.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Troubridge Hill Aquatic Reserve"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150405180456/http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/65419/7._AqResWeb.pdf) (PDF). Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA). Archived from [the original](http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/65419/7._AqResWeb.pdf) (PDF) on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Southern Spencer Gulf Park Management plan summary"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/a620016c-0205-4580-a174-a11700a0a36f/mp-gen-12southernspencer-managementplan.pdf) (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. p. 2 of 6. Retrieved 19 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Lower Yorke Peninsula Marine Park summary"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/2ed484df-6acc-436f-b75f-a11700a0ee28/mp-gen-13loweryorkepeninsula-managementplan.pdf) (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. p. 2 of 6. Retrieved 19 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Western Kangaroo Island Park Management plan summary"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/5531fc53-c6cf-4f8c-b518-a11700a1d969/mp-gen-16westernkangarooisland-managementplan.pdf) (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. p. 27 of 29. Retrieved 23 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Encounter Marine Park Management plan summary"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/a27fabf3-c4fc-4b93-85b4-a11f00f2f772/mp-gen-mgmtplansumm-15-encounter.pdf) (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. p. 2 of 6. Retrieved 17 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Innes National Park Management Plan"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/4f44bdbf-3770-49ce-bcac-9e4f00b1a358/PARKS_PDFS_INNES_MP.pdf) (PDF). Department for Environment and Heritage. 2003. p. 6. Retrieved 24 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Mainland Conservation Parks of Yorke Peninsula Management Plan 2009"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/40ccb65e-c97a-4f04-af74-9e4f00b16e48/mainland-cps-of-yp-mp.pdf) (PDF). Department for Environment and Heritage. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Flinders Chase National Park, Kelly Hill Conservation Park, Ravine des Casoars Wilderness Protection Area and Cape Bouguer Wilderness Protection Area Management Plans"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/937b2d35-3d3e-41f0-9e9e-9e4f00b1a9a9/PARKS_PDFS_KI_MISC_MP.pdf) (PDF). Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs. 1999. p. 5. Retrieved 1 May 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WPA-MP_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WPA-MP_13-1) ["Cape Torrens and Western River Wilderness Protection Areas Management Plan 2006"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/b856ee27-ac75-4c8d-931f-9e4f00b17c7d/PARKS_PDFS_CAPETORRNSWPA.pdf) (PDF). Department for Environment and Heritage. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mp_14-0)** [*Management Plan - Althorpe Islands, Goose Island and Troubridge Island Conservation Parks*](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/3fbcb962-2f67-4e9b-ae0d-9e4f00b16923/cons-gen-althorpe-goose-troubridge-parkmgmtplan-adopted.pdf) (PDF). Adelaide: Department of Environment & Heritage. 2009. pp. 1, 2 & 4. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-921466-76-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-921466-76-2).

## Further reading

- Arnott, T., (1996), *Investigator Strait Maritime Heritage Trail*, Heritage Branch, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs. Adelaide ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0 7308 4720 9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0_7308_4720_9)).

- Coroneos, Cosmos & McKinnon, Robert; (1997), *Shipwrecks of the Investigator Strait and the Lower Yorke Peninsula*, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Adelaide, South Australia. ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-9588496-3-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-9588496-3-3)).

- McKinnon, R.; (1993), *Shipwreck sites of Kangaroo Island*, State Heritage Branch, Department of Environment and Land Management. Adelaide ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0730826929](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0730826929)).

v t e List of Australian seas Ocean Indian Ocean Pacific Ocean Southern Ocean Sea Arafura Sea Coral Sea Tasman Sea Timor Sea Strait Backstairs Passage Bass Strait Clarence Strait Dundas Strait Endeavour Strait Investigator Strait Torres Strait Gulf Admiralty Gulf Beagle Gulf Cambridge Gulf Gulf of Carpentaria Great Australian Bight Exmouth Gulf Joseph Bonaparte Gulf Gulf St Vincent Spencer Gulf Van Diemen Gulf Australia portal Oceans portal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Investigator Strait](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigator_Strait) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigator_Strait?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.