What is the physics behind the whirlpool?

In a whirlpool there's no rope pulling the water back to the center. Instead the opposing force is created by the pressure of the surrounding water. So while the momentum of the spinning water acts as a force sending the water off in all directions, the surrounding water pressure forces it back to the center.



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In one tragic event in 1835, a two-masted schooner from Deer Island set sail with two brothers aboard. She went down in the whirlpool while the poor boys' mother watched in horror from shore as the schooner sank helplessly.

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Fewer than one-hundred people have ever completed this swim (more people have been into space) and it is the only whirlpool that has ever been swum. In some ways they were prepared, in others they had absolutely no idea what to expect…

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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.

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Most whirlpools aren't cause for concern. However, those that are very large or powerful can pose a serious threat to anyone who comes too close. These very strong whirlpools are called maelstroms. They're most likely to form when currents collide near narrow bodies of water, such as straits.

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