South East Cape

South East Cape
South East Cape
Cape
	1916 map of the south coast of Tasmania, showing South East Cape
	South East Cape Location of South East Cape in Tasmania
	Coordinates: 43°38′37″S 146°49′39″E / 43.64361°S 146.82750°E
Location	South Coast
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Tasmanian Wilderness
Location	Oceania
Criteria	iii, iv, vi, vii, viii, ix, x
Reference	181
Inscription	1982 (6th Session)

South East Cape is a cape located at the southernmost point of the main island of Tasmania, the southernmost state in Australia.^[1] The cape is situated in the southern and south-eastern corner of the Southwest National Park, part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, approximately 94 kilometres (58 mi) southwest of Hobart in Tasmania and about 65 kilometres (40 mi) east and slightly south of South West Cape. South East Cape marks the official dividing line between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.^[2]

Location and features

South East Cape from South Cape Bay

South East Cape is the southernmost point of the mainland of Tasmania but not of the state of Tasmania. The Maatsuyker Islands and the Pedra Branca island group, just offshore, are also part of the state of Tasmania and lie further south than South East Cape. The state of Tasmania also includes Macquarie Island, which is about 1,600 km SE of South East Cape.

South East Cape is one of the five southernmost capes that can be rounded by sailors in the earth's southern regions.

The cape is also a reference point for sectors of the southern coastline of Tasmania.^[3] Much sea traffic passes near it, and many ships and boats have been wrecked or grounded there.^[4]

References

^ "SOUTH-EAST CAPE — TASMANIA'S END". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 18 May 1945. p. 7. Retrieved 29 June 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Limits of Oceans and Seas Archived 6 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine. International Hydrographic Organization Special Publication No. 23, 1953.
^ Nash, Michael; Tasmania. Dept. of Lands, Parks and Wildlife (1988), A maritime archaeological survey of South East Tasmania: Cape Raoul to South East Cape, Department of Lands, Parks and Wildlife, ISBN 978-0-7246-2113-2
^ Tasmania. Navigation and Survey Authority (1995), Foundering of FV "Tasmanian Enterprise", South East Cape, on 13 April 1995, Navigation and Survey Authority of Tasmania, retrieved 29 June 2015