The Bass Strait Triangle is the waters that separate the states of Victoria and Tasmania, including Bass Strait, in south-eastern Australia. The term Bass Strait Triangle (inspired by the Bermuda Triangle) appears to have been first used[a] following the Valentich Disappearance in 1978 although the region had a bad reputation (never ascribed to supernatural forces, however) long before that.
Map of Australia with Bass Strait "triangle" marked in light blue
Bass Strait is a generally shallow (average depth of 50 m (160 ft)) stretch of water approximately 300 km (190 mi) wide and 200 km (120 mi) from north to south, encompassed by the entire northern coastline of Tasmania and Victoria's central to eastern coast. The prevailing winds and currents are westerly, the latter being divided by King Island, Tasmania at the western entrance to the strait, causing unpredictable sea conditions, especially when strong winds occur. For example, strong southerly winds can cause a strong northerly current reflecting from the Victorian coast. The combination of winds, currents, tidal flow and the shallow bottom often lead to tall waves, often of short length, with a confused short swell often conflicting in direction.
All shipping to the busy ports of Melbourne, Stanley, Burnie, Devonport, Bell Bay and Launceston and the Bass Strait islands such as King Island and Flinders Island must pass through Bass Strait, and it is also the route of choice for many ships passing from the Australian west to east coasts. Most air traffic between Tasmania and the Australian mainland flies at least in part over or adjacent to it.[1]
Incidents
Bass Strait was discovered following the wreck of the ship Sydney Cove on the Furneaux Group in 1797 and one of the vessels engaged in the salvage operation, the sloopEliza, went missing on her return voyage to Sydney.[2] Hundreds of vessels from small yachts and fishing craft up to the size of bulk carriers have come to grief in Bass Strait since that time through hitting reefs, running aground on the coastline or on river bars while entering port, or foundering due to stress of weather, some dozens being lost without a trace.[3][page needed]
Actual north-south (and vice versa) crossing of Bass Strait seldom occurred until after Melbourne was established in 1835. From 1838-1840, at least seven vessels were lost with all hands on their way to or from the new settlement, wreckage from only three being identified. Rumours that some of these vessels had fallen victim to wreckers appear baseless, the main cause probably being bad weather and poor charts.
In 1858, the British warship HMS Sappho disappeared, with well over one hundred lives lost, and no positively identifiable wreckage located.[4][5]
In 1901 the SS Federal disappeared carrying coal from New South Wales with 31 crew. Her wreck was not located until 2019[6]
In 1906 the SS Ferdinand Fischer, a German cargo ship, disappeared.
The SS Amelia J, a schooner, disappeared on 10 September 1920. HMAS Swordsman was commissioned to search for the ship, and while searching the Bass Strait, a second ship - the barquentineSS Southern Cross - disappeared. A military Airco DH.9A engaged in the search would also then disappear.[7][8] Wreckage of the SS Southern Cross was found on King Island; the SS Amelia J was never discovered, and neither was the Airco DH.9A.[9]
The De Havilland ExpressMiss Hobart, went missing soon after entering service in 1934, only a small amount of wreckage being found on the Victorian coast.
In 1935 Loina, a Holyman airliner, crashed into the sea near Flinders Island with three crew and two passengers lost.[10] No bodies were found.[11] The cause of both accidents was probably a combination of human error with the known poor design of the aircraft.[12]
During the Second World War, several aircraft — mostly RAAFBristol Beaufort bombers — were lost during exercises in Bass Strait while on training flights out of air bases, mainly RAAF Base East Sale near Sale, Victoria. These accidents were probably caused by the inexperienced crew crashing into the sea while performing low-level bombing practice — similar accidents occurred over land.[13]
In 1972 a De Havilland Tiger Moth flown by Brenda Hean and Max Price disappeared on a flight from Tasmania to Canberra as part of protests against the flooding of Lake Pedder for a hydroelectricity scheme.[14] It was believed to have crashed at sea somewhere between the East Coast and Flinders Island.[citation needed]Sabotage by pro-development interests was alleged.[15][page needed]
^The term appears on the back cover of "The Devil's Meridian" by Kevin Killey & Gary Lester, published in 1980, and makes up part of the title of Jack Loney's book on the region published in the same year.
^Australian Pilot Volume II: : South, South- East and East Coasts of Australia from Green Cape to Port Jackson Including Bass Strait and Tasmania. Somerset: Hydrographic Department. 1982.
^Wilson, Stewart (1990). Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian service. Recounting the exciting exploits and achievements of Australia's three light bombers of World War II. Canberra: Aerospace Publications. ISBN0-958797-84-6.
Millwood, Scott (2008). Whatever happened to Brenda Hean?. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen and Unwin. ISBN978-1-74175-611-1.
Whitmore, Debbie (1999). An Extreme Event:The compelling, true story of the tragic 1998 Sydney-Hobart Race. Sydney: Random House Australia. ISBN0-0918-4057-0.
bass, strait, triangle, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2009, learn, when, remove, this, template, mess. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Bass Strait Triangle is the waters that separate the states of Victoria and Tasmania including Bass Strait in south eastern Australia The term Bass Strait Triangle inspired by the Bermuda Triangle appears to have been first used a following the Valentich Disappearance in 1978 although the region had a bad reputation never ascribed to supernatural forces however long before that Map of Australia with Bass Strait triangle marked in light blue Contents 1 Geography of Bass Strait 2 Incidents 3 References 4 External linksGeography of Bass Strait EditBass Strait is a generally shallow average depth of 50 m 160 ft stretch of water approximately 300 km 190 mi wide and 200 km 120 mi from north to south encompassed by the entire northern coastline of Tasmania and Victoria s central to eastern coast The prevailing winds and currents are westerly the latter being divided by King Island Tasmania at the western entrance to the strait causing unpredictable sea conditions especially when strong winds occur For example strong southerly winds can cause a strong northerly current reflecting from the Victorian coast The combination of winds currents tidal flow and the shallow bottom often lead to tall waves often of short length with a confused short swell often conflicting in direction All shipping to the busy ports of Melbourne Stanley Burnie Devonport Bell Bay and Launceston and the Bass Strait islands such as King Island and Flinders Island must pass through Bass Strait and it is also the route of choice for many ships passing from the Australian west to east coasts Most air traffic between Tasmania and the Australian mainland flies at least in part over or adjacent to it 1 Incidents EditBass Strait was discovered following the wreck of the ship Sydney Cove on the Furneaux Group in 1797 and one of the vessels engaged in the salvage operation the sloop Eliza went missing on her return voyage to Sydney 2 Hundreds of vessels from small yachts and fishing craft up to the size of bulk carriers have come to grief in Bass Strait since that time through hitting reefs running aground on the coastline or on river bars while entering port or foundering due to stress of weather some dozens being lost without a trace 3 page needed Actual north south and vice versa crossing of Bass Strait seldom occurred until after Melbourne was established in 1835 From 1838 1840 at least seven vessels were lost with all hands on their way to or from the new settlement wreckage from only three being identified Rumours that some of these vessels had fallen victim to wreckers appear baseless the main cause probably being bad weather and poor charts In 1858 the British warship HMS Sappho disappeared with well over one hundred lives lost and no positively identifiable wreckage located 4 5 In 1901 the SS Federal disappeared carrying coal from New South Wales with 31 crew Her wreck was not located until 2019 6 In 1906 the SS Ferdinand Fischer a German cargo ship disappeared The SS Amelia J a schooner disappeared on 10 September 1920 HMAS Swordsman was commissioned to search for the ship and while searching the Bass Strait a second ship the barquentine SS Southern Cross disappeared A military Airco DH 9A engaged in the search would also then disappear 7 8 Wreckage of the SS Southern Cross was found on King Island the SS Amelia J was never discovered and neither was the Airco DH 9A 9 The De Havilland Express Miss Hobart went missing soon after entering service in 1934 only a small amount of wreckage being found on the Victorian coast In 1935 Loina a Holyman airliner crashed into the sea near Flinders Island with three crew and two passengers lost 10 No bodies were found 11 The cause of both accidents was probably a combination of human error with the known poor design of the aircraft 12 During the Second World War several aircraft mostly RAAF Bristol Beaufort bombers were lost during exercises in Bass Strait while on training flights out of air bases mainly RAAF Base East Sale near Sale Victoria These accidents were probably caused by the inexperienced crew crashing into the sea while performing low level bombing practice similar accidents occurred over land 13 In 1972 a De Havilland Tiger Moth flown by Brenda Hean and Max Price disappeared on a flight from Tasmania to Canberra as part of protests against the flooding of Lake Pedder for a hydroelectricity scheme 14 It was believed to have crashed at sea somewhere between the East Coast and Flinders Island citation needed Sabotage by pro development interests was alleged 15 page needed In 1978 a Cessna flown by Frederick Valentich disappeared after reporting a UFO 16 1979 the yacht Charleston disappeared while sailing to Sydney to join the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 17 References EditNotes The term appears on the back cover of The Devil s Meridian by Kevin Killey amp Gary Lester published in 1980 and makes up part of the title of Jack Loney s book on the region published in the same year Australian Pilot Volume II South South East and East Coasts of Australia from Green Cape to Port Jackson Including Bass Strait and Tasmania Somerset Hydrographic Department 1982 Broxam Graeme Nash Michael 2013 Tasmanian Shipwrecks Volume 1 1797 1899 Canberra Navarine Publishing ISBN 978 0975133187 Broxam Graeme Nash Michael 2013 Tasmanian Shipwrecks Volume 1 1797 1899 Canberra Navarine Publishing ISBN 978 0975133187 Killey amp Lester 1980 pp 23 amp 24 Broxam Graeme Nash Michael 2013 Tasmanian Shipwrecks Volume 1 1797 1899 Canberra Navarine Publishing ISBN 978 0975133187 Bass Strait shipwreck studied in bid to solve century old mystery www abc net au 27 June 2019 Killey amp Lester 1980 pp 26 31 Broxam Graeme Nash Michael 2013 Tasmanian Shipwrecks Volume 2 1900 2012 Canberra Navarine Publishing ISBN 978 0992366001 Royal Australian Navy HMAS Swordsman www navy gov au Retrieved 28 July 2020 Killey amp Lester 1980 pp 33 43 GRIM EVIDENCE OF THE LOINA DISASTER Examiner Launceston Tas 1900 1954 4 October 1935 p 7 Job Macarthur 1991 Air Crash Vol 1 Canberra Aerospace Publications ISBN 1 875671 11 0 Wilson Stewart 1990 Beaufort Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian service Recounting the exciting exploits and achievements of Australia s three light bombers of World War II Canberra Aerospace Publications ISBN 0 958797 84 6 Killey amp Lester 1980 pp 49 amp 50 Millwood 2008 Search for pilot who saw UFO then disappeared discontinued Lodi News Sentinel United Press International 1978 10 26 Retrieved 2021 04 26 Lost yacht mystery continues 30 years on www abc net au 21 December 2009 SourcesBrown Malcolm 2002 Australia s Worst Disasters Melbourne Lothian Books ISBN 0 7344 0338 0 Broxam Graeme Nash Michael 2013 Tasmanian Shipwrecks Volume 1 1797 1899 Canberra Navarine Publishing ISBN 978 0975133187 Broxam Graeme Nash Michael 2013 Tasmanian Shipwrecks Volume 2 1900 2012 Canberra Navarine Publishing ISBN 978 0992366001 Killey Kevin Lester Gary 1980 The Devil s Meridian Sydney Lester Townsend ISBN 0 949853 01 1 Job Macarthur 1991 Air Crash Vol 1 Canberra Aerospace Publications ISBN 1 875671 11 0 Loney Jack 1980 Mysteries of the Bass Strait Triangle 1st ed Neptune Press ISBN 0 9091315 3 8 Millwood Scott 2008 Whatever happened to Brenda Hean Crows Nest NSW Allen and Unwin ISBN 978 1 74175 611 1 Whitmore Debbie 1999 An Extreme Event The compelling true story of the tragic 1998 Sydney Hobart Race Sydney Random House Australia ISBN 0 0918 4057 0 External links EditAustralia Broadcasting Corporation transcript of TV program on the disappearance of Brenda Hean and Max Price http www abc net au tv rewind txt s1173814 htm Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bass Strait Triangle amp oldid 1133129896, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
