Taitetimu / Caswell Sound facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Taitetimu / Caswell Sound |
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 Taitetimu / Caswell Sound
Location in New Zealand
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| Location | Tasman Sea |
| Coordinates | 45°0′0″S 167°07′30″E / 45.00000°S 167.12500°E |
| Native name | Taitetimu Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| River sources | Stillwater River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 16 km (9.9 mi) |
| Max. width | 1 km (0.62 mi) |
Taitetimu / Caswell Sound is a beautiful fiord located on the South Island of New Zealand. A fiord is like a long, narrow arm of the sea, surrounded by tall cliffs. This fiord is part of the amazing coastline of Fiordland, a region famous for its stunning natural beauty.
Contents
Exploring Taitetimu / Caswell Sound
Where is Taitetimu / Caswell Sound?
This fiord is found on the central coast of Fiordland. It sits between two other fiords: Te Houhou / George Sound and Taiporoporo / Charles Sound.
How Big is the Fiord?
Taitetimu / Caswell Sound is about 16 kilometres (10 miles) long. It stretches mostly towards the west-northwest. The fiord is quite straight. However, near its opening to the Tasman Sea, it turns north. It does not have many large side branches or deep curves.
What Features Can You See?
Near the entrance to the Tasman Sea, you can spot a small island. This island is called Styles Island. It sits close to the southern edge of the fiord.
Along the southern side of the fiord, there is a straight line of mountains. These peaks are very tall. The highest point reaches about 1,485 metres (4,872 feet). Close to this high peak is a small mountain lake called Lake Shirley. Water from Lake Shirley flows into the fiord over the beautiful Shirley Falls.
Mountains also stand tall along the northern side of the fiord. Several of these mountains are higher than 1,200 metres (3,900 feet).
Rivers Feeding the Fiord
Many small rivers flow into the fiord from its southern and northern sides. But the main river that feeds the fiord is the Stillwater River. This river flows into the eastern end of the fiord.
Just before reaching the fiord, the Stillwater River flows into the northern part of Lake Marchant. It then exits the lake from its northwest side and enters the fiord. Lake Marchant also gets water from another stream called the Large Burn, which flows into the lake's southern end.
The Name of the Fiord
How Did It Get Its Name?
The name Caswell Sound has a few possible stories behind it. One popular idea is that it was named after Jim Caswell. He was a guide who was either Māori or Aboriginal Australian. Jim Caswell helped a group of seal hunters in the early 1800s.
Another idea suggests it was named after William Caswell. He was a Commander in the Royal Navy. He might have surveyed the sounds in the 1830s. Other nearby places are also named after naval officers, which makes this idea possible. There were also two other naval officers named George and Thomas Caswell who visited the area. This makes the exact origin a bit tricky to figure out!
Official Name Change
In October 2019, the fiord's name was officially changed. It is now known as Taitetimu / Caswell Sound.
