The Marlborough Sounds are a unique combination of land, sea and human history. The Sounds were originally river valleys but under the pressure of tectonic forces were submerged and filled in by the sea to create steep hillsides, a huge length of coastline and a rich variety of habitats.
The Sounds run from Cape Soucis in the west to Robin Hood Bay in the east.
Within this area the seafloor takes many forms, including habitats made by living organisms, deep mud, coarse sand, shell and bedrock with reefs and rocky outcrops.
This supports a huge range of marine plants and animals, from rare bryozoan corals, king shag and dusky dolphin to common mussels and blue cod.
The Sounds have supported people for at least 800 years, with Māori continuing to value their ancestral links to the area and the rich mahinga kai.
The first Europeans were whalers, loggers and farmers and the commercial use of the Sounds continues today with aquaculture, fishing and tourism. But to most people the Sounds are the place for a memorable holiday or fishing trip and the chance to swim, kayak and enjoy the protected coastal waters.
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