Story: Place names

Marcaciones Point, Doubtful Sound, Fiordland

Marcaciones Point, Doubtful Sound, Fiordland

In 1793 a round-the-world Spanish expedition (then in its fourth year) led by the Italian Captain Alessandro Malaspina spent three days in Fiordland. Don Felipe Bauza carried out a reconnaissance of Doubtful Sound on 25 February. Bauza named a number of places including Marcaciones Point. He took observations there and ‘marcaciones’ is Spanish for markings. In his charting of Doubtful Sound in 1851 Captain Stokes of the Acheron changed many of Bauza’s names, but they have been reinstated. This plaque was unveiled in 1984.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10058691

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Malcolm McKinnon, 'Place names - Early explorers', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/19335/marcaciones-point-doubtful-sound-fiordland (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Malcolm McKinnon, published 24 Nov 2008