Doubtful Sound

- 45.3166.98333333333Koordinaten: 45 ° 18 '0 "S, 166 ° 59' 0" E

Doubtful Sound is a fjord in the Fiordland National Park on the South Island of New Zealand. After more accessible, but smaller Milford Sound Doubtful Sound is a tourist center in Te Wahipounamu World Natural Heritage Site by Unesco.

The name comes from James Cook, who called the fjord as Doubtful Harbour because it doubtful it ( engl: doubtful ) held that he could back out sailing from this indentation. In 1793, the Italian Alessandro Malaspina di Mulazzo conducted during an expedition around the world measurements and mapping in Doubtful Harbour. Therefore, the Spanish names of various points in the Harbour come. Later whalers called him into Doubtful Sound.

The fjord is primarily known for the numerous waterfalls, which form after the rains in one of the wettest areas of the earth on the steep slopes. Lasting cases are the Helena Falls and the Browne Falls with a height of 600 meters.

In the water there is a rich fauna. It is therefore particularly that a several meters deep layer is located on the sea water from fresh water, which almost does not mix with the sea water. Through different refractive indices almost no light reaches the deeper area, so that there resettle species normally found only in much larger water depths. These include a variety of starfish, and anemones and black corals.

In addition to a colony of bottlenose dolphins live in the Sound Fiordland penguins and New Zealand fur seals. From 1963 to 1969, the former Australian passenger ship Wanganella was in Doubtful Sound at anchor and served in that time as an accommodation ship for miners.

In addition to guided tours of the fjord is also a popular destination for kayakers. A connection is either over the sea, or a road that starts at Lake Manapouri.