Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound |
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 Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound
Location in New Zealand
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| Location | Fiordland |
| Coordinates | 45°15′0″S 167°00′00″E / 45.25000°S 167.00000°E |
| Native name | Te Awa-o-Tū Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Part of | Tasman Sea |
| River sources | Pandora River, Namu River |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 21 km (13 mi) |
| Max. width | 1 km (0.62 mi) |
Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound is a beautiful fiord located in the South Island of New Zealand. A fiord is a long, narrow inlet of the sea, often with steep cliffs on either side. It was formed by glaciers carving out the land over many years. This fiord is one of several that make up the stunning coastline of Fiordland.
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Exploring Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound
Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound stretches for about 21 kilometres (13 miles). It is quite narrow, usually around 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) wide. This fiord is connected to Doubtful Sound, another famous fiord. Together, they form the coastline of Secretary Island that faces away from the Tasman Sea.
Nearby Waterways
A waterway called Bradshaw Sound extends from where Thompson and Doubtful Sounds meet. Bradshaw Sound is actually a natural extension of Thompson Sound. Several smaller rivers flow into Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound. These include the Pandora River and the Namu River.
The Story Behind the Name
Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound has an interesting history regarding its name. It was first named Thompson Sound by a sealer named John Grono. He worked along the Fiordland coast in the early 1800s. Grono named the sound after Andrew Thompson, who owned his boat.
Mount Grono and Deas Cove
John Grono himself is remembered in the name of Mount Grono. This mountain is 1,196 metres (3,924 feet) high and is the tallest point on Secretary Island. Later, a surveyor named Captain John Stokes thought the sound was named after a different person, Edward Deas Thomson. Because of this, he named a small bay on Secretary Island "Deas Cove."
Official Dual Name
In October 2019, the fiord's name was officially changed. It is now known by its dual name: Te Awa-o-Tū / Thompson Sound. This reflects both its historical European name and its traditional Māori name.
