Where is the strongest whirlpool in the world?

Situated outside of Bod?, Saltstraumen is a small strait that contains the world's strongest tidal current. Travelers crossing the maelstrom must be very careful because the waters form dangerous tidal whirlpools that have considerable downdraft.



The strongest whirlpool (or maelstrom) in the world is Saltstraumen, located just outside the city of Bodø, Norway, near the Arctic Circle. This incredible natural phenomenon is created when the tide attempts to fill the Skjerstad Fjord; roughly 400 million cubic meters of water are forced through a narrow strait just 150 meters wide every six hours. This results in water speeds reaching up to 40 kilometers per hour (approx. 25 mph) and the formation of massive whirlpools up to 10 meters (33 feet) in diameter. While it is a spectacular sight for tourists—who can view it from a bridge or take high-speed RIB boat tours—it is also a powerful ecological engine that supports a vast array of marine life. Saltstraumen has been a focal point for human settlement for over 10,000 years, with ancient hunters drawn to the abundant fish trapped in the churning, nutrient-rich currents of the world's most powerful tidal flow.

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The Old Sow is the world's second-largest whirlpool. The huge tides rip through Head Harbor Passage, and surge between Eastport, Maine, and Deer Island, New Brunswick.

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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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Most ships can withstand a whirlpool - not something that's in the general design of an ocean going ship. For a small boat it's best to stay out of the way!

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When the two whirlpools become entwined, their linked tails form a U-shaped vortex under the water, which can hold together for up to six months before falling apart.

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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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The Saltstraumen maelstrom holds the Guinness world record for the strongest natural whirlpool in the world. This remarkable Norwegian eddy is estimated to have existed for over 3 millennia, when this coastal region had glaciers in its fjords and channels.

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Smaller whirlpools are generally either currents that can peter out and allow you to escape, or part of water systems that can dash you into rocks and knock you out, or something that can take you into an underwater sinkhole and drown you. But in any case, DO NOT underestimate the force of water.

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Titanic (April 1912) On the night of April 14, 1912, the ship collided with an iceberg. A little over two-and-a-half hours later, the ship was completely submerged underwater. Unfortunately, the majority of passengers were unable to safely evacuate, as there were not enough lifeboats for everyone onboard.

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So, while cruise ships are certainly not invulnerable to hurricanes, and would likely suffer significant damage if they were forced to sail through one, whether they'd sink depends largely on the size of the vessel and how robust its owners have been on maintenance.

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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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