Oceania - amazing geography and sights.
Strait separating mainland Australia from Tasmania. It is some 150 mi (240 km) wide at its widest point, about 185 mi (300 km) long, and 180240 ft (5575 m) deep. It was named in 1798 for the British surgeon-explorer George Bass. Development of its offshore petroleum resources began in the 1960s.
Find more information on Bass Strait. Upgrade to Britannica Online for more on Bass Strait.