Ataturk Channel Explained

Ataturk Channel
Other Name:Ataturk Entrance
Location:South coast of Western Australia
Coordinates:-35.0388°N 117.9162°W
Type:Water channel
Etymology:Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938), founder and first president of Turkey, who fought at Gallipoli campaign against ANZAC.
Part Of:King George Sound
Oceans:Indian Ocean
Cities:Albany
Pushpin Map:Australia

Atatürk Channel, also known as Atatürk Entrance is a water channel named after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and located at King George Sound leading to Princess Royal Harbour in Albany on the south coast of Western Australia.

The water channel was officially renamed in 1985 after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) in exchange for naming the landing beach of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I in 1915, as ANZAC Cove in Turkey. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and the first president of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, fought at the Gallipoli campaign against ANZAC. Ataturk Channel is wide and deep enough to allow navigation of large ships into the Princess Royal Harbour.

A life-sized standing statue of Atatürk overlooking to the channel named after him was erected in 2002.[1] The memorial is accessible walking along Stirling Terrace or from the Middleton Beach.

Notes and References

  1. https://catalogue.slwa.wa.gov.au/record=b2117260~S2 - Library catalogue summary: Albany and Gallipoli to become sister cities. Friendship is strengthened with the gift of a statue of Kemal Ataturk, first president of the new Turkish Republic and Turkish divisional commander in 1915. It stands on the walk trail at the base of Mt Adelaide overlooking the departure point of the AIF in 1914. in Albany gives pride of place to Ataturk statue in Destinations, Jan-Feb 2003, p.10-11