Saltstraumen is the most powerful maelstrom in the world. The water speed has been measured at over 20 knots, and more than 3,000 m3 of water flow across the entrance to the fjord every second. Saltstraumen is very rich in fish, some of which are famously big. In fact, the largest pollock ever recorded was caught here.

The Saltstraumen maelstrom in Norway is widely recognized as the strongest and most powerful maelstrom in the world. Located near the town of Bodø, it is caused by the tide attempting to force 400 million cubic meters of water through a narrow strait that is only 150 meters wide at its smallest point. The water speed here has been measured at over 20 knots (approx. 40 km/h), creating massive whirlpools (vortices) that can reach up to 10 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep. While the legendary Moskenstraumen (further north in the Lofoten Islands) is more famous in literature thanks to Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne, Saltstraumen is the modern record-holder for sheer velocity and volume of water moved. This natural phenomenon occurs every six hours with the changing tides, and while it is a major tourist attraction in 2026—offering "Sea Safari" RIB boat tours—it remains an extremely dangerous stretch of water that requires expert navigation to survive its immense churning power.