Port Gore facts for kids

Port Gore is a beautiful bay and a natural harbour in New Zealand. It's located at the northern part of the Marlborough Sounds. This special place is near the top of the South Island. It sits at the western end of Cook Strait. You can find it just west of the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound. Its official name is Te Anamāhanga / Port Gore.

Port Gore: A Special Bay

Port Gore is a large, sheltered bay. It acts like a natural harbour, which means it's a safe place for ships to anchor. It's part of the amazing Marlborough Sounds. These are a network of ancient river valleys that filled with water. They create many islands and bays.

Where is Port Gore?

This bay is found at the northern end of the Marlborough Sounds. It's very close to the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island. Port Gore is also at the western edge of the Cook Strait. This strait is a famous stretch of water that separates the North and South Islands. It lies directly west of the entrance to another well-known area, Queen Charlotte Sound.

The Story of the Mikhail Lermontov

Port Gore is famous for being the final resting place of a huge ship. This ship was the Mikhail Lermontov. It was a luxury cruise liner from the Soviet Union. The ship was about 170 meters (558 feet) long. It sank on 16 February 1986.

Why Did It Sink?

The Mikhail Lermontov sank because it tried to sail through a very narrow passage. This passage was between Cape Jackson and a place called Lighthouse Rock. The ship hit something underwater and began to sink. Sadly, one crew member lost their life in the accident.

After the ship sank, the leader of Russia at the time, Boris Yeltsin, made a joke. He said that New Zealand was the only country that managed to sink a Russian ship. He meant it in a light-hearted way, as it was an accident.

Diving into History

Today, the Mikhail Lermontov is a very popular spot for divers. It is the largest fully intact shipwreck in the world that you can dive to. The ship rests at a depth of only 37 meters (121 feet). This makes it quite easy for experienced divers to visit. It's like a giant underwater museum.

Its Official Name

In August 2014, the name of the bay was officially changed. It became Te Anamāhanga / Port Gore. This change recognizes the Māori name for the area. Māori are the native people of New Zealand.