Torres Strait

Torres Strait tŏrˈĭz, –rĭs [key], channel, c.95 mi (153 km) wide, between New Guinea and Cape York Peninsula of Australia. It connects the Arafura and Coral seas. The strait is shallow, with many reefs and islands, and is hazardous for navigation. It is named for Spanish explorer Luis Torres. In 2010 the Australian federal courts recognized the traditional rights and interests of the Torres Strait islanders over some 17,000 sq mi (44,000 sq km) of sea in the Torres Strait.

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