Macquarie Harbour

Macquarie Harbour is a shallow fjord in the West Coast region of Tasmania, Australia. It is approximately 315 square kilometres (122 sq mi), and has an average depth of 15 metres (49 ft), with deeper places up to 50 metres (160 ft). It is navigable by shallow-draft vessels. The main channel is kept clear by the presence of a rock wall on the outside of the channel's curve. This man-made wall prevents erosion and keeps the channel deep and narrow, rather than allowing the channel to become wide and shallow. A reported Aboriginal name for the harbour is Parralaongatek.

Macquarie Harbour
Parralaongatek
A view across Macquarie Harbour (Mount Sorell at rear).
Macquarie Harbour
Location in Tasmania
False colour Landsat image centred on Macquarie Harbour, looking northwest, draped over digital elevation model with x2 vertical exaggeration; screen capture from the NASA World Wind
LocationWestern Tasmania
Coordinates42°17′38″S 145°21′31″E
EtymologyLachlan Macquarie
River sources
Ocean/sea sourcesSouthern Ocean
Basin countriesAustralia
IslandsSarah Island
Sections/sub-basins
SettlementsStrahan

The harbour was named in honour of Scottish Major General Lachlan Macquarie, the fifth Colonial Governor of New South Wales.

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