Torres Strait (redirected from Torres Straits)

Torres Strait (tŏr`ĭz, –rĭs), channel, c.95 mi (153 km) wide, between New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula of Australia. It connects the Arafura and Coral seas. The strait is shallow, with many reefs and islands, and is hazardous for navigation. It is named for Spanish explorer Luis Torres.

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Torres Strait

Passage between the island of New Guinea and Australia's Cape York Peninsula. It connects the Coral Sea and the Arafura Sea. It was discovered in 1606 by Spanish navigator Luis Vaez de Torres. About 80 mi (130 km) wide, it has many reefs, shoals, and islands, including the Torres Strait Islands, and is treacherous to navigate.

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Torres Strait

a strait between NE Australia and S New Guinea, linking the Arafura Sea with the Coral Sea. Width: about 145 km (90 miles)

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Torres Strait 

a strait between New Guinea and Australia linking the Indian and Pacific oceans. The Torres Strait is 170 km wide and 14 m deep in the navigable channel. It is dotted with many islands, rocks, and reefs, which make navigation difficult. The strait has strong tidal currents, which flow eastward during the Australian winter and westward during the summer, with velocities up to 1 km/hr. The strait is named after L. Torres.