Description — Doubtful Sound, New Zealand
Doubtful Sound - a fjord in the south-western part of New Zealand's South Island, within the Fiordland region. Doubtful Sound is one of the largest fjords in New Zealand. Located in rugged, hard-to-reach mountainous terrain, so the fjord’s shores are steep and, for most of the year, the only way to get there is by water.
Three distinct arms stand out, each featuring several large waterfalls dropping from heights of up to 600 m. During the rainy season, the number of waterfalls in the area increases to several hundred. One of the fjord’s features is the presence of two distinct layers of water that barely mix with each other. The upper few meters are freshwater that enters Doubtful Sound as a result of local glacier melt and mountain snow. Since this water flows through vast forests, it has a brownish tint. The lower layer of water in the fjord, meanwhile, is cold seawater.
The local fauna is notable for its great diversity. In the fjord, one of the southernmost populations of bottlenose dolphins is found. There are about 70 individuals in total, and over several years of observation, none of them has left the bay. Sea lions and penguins are also seen in Doubtful Sound. From time to time, whales enter the bay. In addition, the fjord is known for its black corals.
The European discoverer of the island was the British traveler James Cook, who discovered this fjord in 1770. However, the mariner did not dare to steer his vessel into it and named the bay “Doubtful Harbour.”
ClimateThe climate here is cool and temperate. Precipitation levels range from 600 to 1600 millimeters per year. They are distributed relatively evenly throughout the year, except for a drier summer period. The average annual temperature is from +10 °C. The coldest month is July, and the warmest months are January and February.
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Location on the map
Cruises calling at this port
Sydney, Australia, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand, Tauranga, New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia
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Sydney, Australia, Picton, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia
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Sydney, Australia, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand, Tauranga, New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia
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Sydney, Australia, Sydney, Australia, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia
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Sydney, Australia, Picton, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia
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Sydney, Australia, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand, Picton, New Zealand, Napier, New Zealand, Tauranga, New Zealand, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
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Auckland, New Zealand, Bay of Islands, New Zealand, Tauranga, New Zealand, Napier, New Zealand, Picton, New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia
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Sydney, Australia, Picton, New Zealand, Napier, New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand, Dunedin, New Zealand, Dusky Sound Fjord, New Zealand, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia
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