Top 5 Strongest and Largest Whirlpools In The World!
Have you watched the water swirling down in a circle through the drain as the stopper of the kitchen sink is removed? That turbulent center is called a whirlpool. There are much larger whirlpools in bodies of water all around the world. A whirlpool forms when strong currents of water flow through narrow land connecting two large bodies of water. The bigger ones, formed by the tides of the seas or oceans are called Malestroms. Some of them are so powerful that they can sink ships! Keep reading to learn about the top 5 strongest and largest whirlpools in the world!
1. Saltstraumen maelstrom
Saltstraumen strait is a 150m narrow strip of land connecting two basins of ocean water, located in Bodø in Nordland County, Norway. Four times per day, when the tides are at their highest, around 400 million cubic meters of water force its way through this narrow land. The speed of the tide goes upto around 40 kilometers per hour. This makes it the strongest tidal current in the world. The turbulence caused makes maelstroms up to 10 meters in diameter and 5 meters in width to appear in water. Saltstraumen is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest whirlpool in existence.
Saltstraumen, which has a history of more than 2000 years, attracts tourists from around the world year-round. If you are brave enough, you can even participate in activities such as swimming and snorkeling in the relatively calm ocean in between the tides.
2. Old Sow
Old Sow is located near the Western Passage of Passamaquoddy Bay in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. It is formed by the current flowing between Deer Island and Indian Island, making a right-angle turn to the north around the southern tip of Deer Island, through a nearly 122-meter-deep trench. It then flows around an underwater mountain around 36 meters below the water’s surface, and then into another trench of over 107 meters deep. Additional significant current comes from between Campobello Island and Indian Island, turning northward, and then joining the previously described current.
The dynamics of old sow vary according to the strength of the tide. While at times it forms a giant whirlpool almost 75 meters in diameter, it is more commonly known to form a moderate whirlpool with several smaller whirlpools accompanying it.
The origin of the name ‘old sow’ has many theories surrounding it. One interesting theory suggests that the name refers to the noisy porcine-like sound that the whirlpool makes at its loudest.
3. Skookumchuck Narrows
Skookumchuck Narrows or ‘Skook’, as the locals affectionately call it, is another great whirlpool.
Located at the entrance of Sechelt Inlet on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast in Canada, this white water wonder attracts crowds worldwide.
Twice daily the tide forces nearly 760,000,000 m3 of seawater through the narrows across a 3 m tide. The difference in water levels on either side of the rapids can exceed 2 meters in height.
Considered to be one of the fastest tidal rapids in the world, visitors can reach it through a 4km hike in Skookumchuck Narrows Provincial Park, British Columbia.
4. Niagara Whirlpool
Located downstream of the world-renowned Niagara Waterfall, Niagara Whirlpool is one of the largest natural whirlpools in the world. It is as deep as 38 meters; with an average depth is 10.7 meters. It originated nearly 4200 years ago from the upstream erosion in the Niagara Escarpment. The whirlpool runs between the borders of Canada and the USA. The Niagara Glen Nature Reserve in Canada and the Whirlpool State Park in the USA are on either side of the Whirlpool.
The gorge is observable from both sides of the border. But another, more thrilling way to experience its majesty is by taking the Aero Car passing right on top of the Niagara whirlpool. Located on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Aero Car is a gondola-like transportation system that crosses the Niagara Gorge. It has been in operation since 1916. The ride takes about 5 minutes each way with views of both sides of the gorge.
5. Naruto Whirlpool
Naruto whirlpools or Naruto no Uzushio, in Japanese, are tidal whirlpools in the Naruto Strait, Japan. It connects Naruto in Tokushima and Awaji Island in Hyōgo, Japan. The strip of land has a width of about 1.3 km. The oncoming tide creates a difference in the water level of up to 1.5 m between the Pacific Ocean and the inland sea. ‘
Though the whirlpools occur about once in six hours, the intensity varies according to the strength of the tide. They are at their highest strength, during the summer, at the spring tide, when the sun, moon, and the earth are in alignment.
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