The Gulf of St. Vincent

The Gulf of St. Vincent is a large passage (inlet) of water located on the southern coast of Australia. It shares a boundary with Yorke Peninsula (to the west), as well as the Mainland and Fleurieu (to the east).

The entrance of St. Vincent is taken as a line from Troubridge point, on Yorke Peninsula, to Cape Jervis, on Fleurieu Peninsula.

Gulf of St. Vincent Facts for Kids

• The Gulf of St. Vincent stretches a maximum length of 138.9 kilometers (86.3 miles). It has a maximum width of 61.15 kilometers (38 miles), an average depth of 21 meters (69 feet), and a maximum depth of 40 meters (130 feet). It covers an area of 6,800 kilometers square. The Gulf of St. Vincent is a shallow body of water.
• The rivers that feed the Gulf of St. Vincent are: Gawler River, Field River, Port River, Wakefield River, Dry Creek River, Little Para River, Onkaparinga River, Torrens River, Bungala River, and Patawalonga River.
• On the 30th of March, 1802, the Gulf of St. Vincent was originally named ‘Gulph of St. Vincent’ by Matthew Flinders in honour of Admiral John Jervis (the first Earl of Saint Vincent).
• A map of the Gulf of St. Vincent was created by Nicolas Bandin. He named it Golphe Josephine.
• The South Australian capital, Adelaide, is located midway along the eastern coast of the Gulf of St. Vincent.
• The following towns are situated on the Gulf of St. Vincent, from east to west: Ardrossan, Portwakefield, Normanville, Port Vincent, and Edithburgh.
• The Gulf of St. Vincent is filled with sea animals (crustaceans) such as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, krill, shrimps, and barnacles. The gulf also contains worms (polychaeta) such as lugworm, sandworm, and clamworm.
• The islands found on the Gulf of St. Vincent are: Troubridge Island, Garden Island, and Torrens Island.
• The Adelaide Desalination Plant was opened in 2013, on the eastern shore of the Gulf of St. Vincent, at Lonsdale, in South Australia. The function of the Plant is to remove salt from the water and make it safe for use by the people living in Adelaide.
• Located north of Adelaide, in the Gulf of St. Vincent, is an important area for birds. This are takes care of more than 1% of the world’s population of different species of birds, such as black faced cormorants, red necked sandpipers, and silver gull.
• Port Adelaide is South Australia’s most important port, and it is located on the eastern side of the Gulf of St. Vincent.

QUESTIONS

1. The Gulf of St. Vincent is a shallow body of water. Yes or No.

2. A map of the Gulf of St. Vincent was created by?

3. Write out the names of the three islands that can be found on the Gulf of St. Vincent.?

4. Write out the names of five rivers that feed the Gulf of St. Vincent.?

5. In what year was the Adelaide Desalination Plant opened?

6. What is the maximum length of the Gulf of St. Vincent?

7. The South Australian capital, Adelaide, is located midway along the eastern coast of the Gulf of St. Vincent. Yes or No.