Rakituma / Preservation Inlet
< Rakituma
| Rakituma / Preservation Inlet | |
|---|---|
| Rakituma (Māori) | |
Te Awaroa / Long Sound, in the upper reaches of Rakituma / Preservation Inlet | |
| Location | Tasman Sea |
| Coordinates | 46°05′20″S 166°38′31″E / 46.089°S 166.642°E |
| Primary inflows | Long Burn, Gray River, Richard Burn, Margaret Stream, Jeanie Burn, Blacklock Stream, Dawson Burn |
| Catchment area | 562 square kilometres (217 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | New Zealand |
| Max. length | 36.5 kilometres (22.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 93 square kilometres (36 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 371 square kilometres (143 sq mi) |
| Islands | Only Islands, Cording Islands, Weka or Long Island, Steep-to Island, Coal Island |
| Sections/sub-basins | Te Awaroa / Long Sound, Useless Bay, Revolver Bay, Isthmus Sound, Otago Retreat |
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Rakituma / Preservation Inlet is the southernmost fiord in Fiordland National Park and lies on the southwest corner of the South Island of New Zealand. With an area of 93 square kilometres (36 sq mi), it is the fourth largest fiord in New Zealand, after Tamatea / Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound / Patea, and the neighbouring Taiari / Chalky Inlet to the north. Rakituma was briefly the site of an attempted fishing and gold mining settlement at Cromarty during the 19th century, however this was quickly abandoned once the level of gold declined in relation to more promising fields elsewhere.