How water swirls are formed

Water swirls are descending vertical movements that are formed under water concentically and conical. The explanation to how and why a swirl of water forms is explained below. It is due to causes such as:

• The speed difference: As for example, it happens near the banks where the outgoing waves collide with the incoming waves, thus generating two speeds that face and form a whirlpool. These waves can be presented as currents or tides; The latter influenced by the lunar phase. The currents of different speeds can be generated by the clash of water with structures such as rocks, to break on the marine coast or, even, by the wind.
• The narrow channels that receive water from a larger source: When traveling through this narrowing, the water flow is reduced causing it to travel faster. Here the water meets suddenly with another slower speed current and generates the swirl. This is a more complex version but follows the same principle as the origin due to speed difference.
• Soil irregularities: in the form of depressions around which water is attracted and sucking. It is the most common way of how a swirl of water forms. In depressions, vortices are formed that cause the swirl to be more active. This activity depends on the amount of movement of the center.

Water swirls can occur both in seas and oceans, and in rivers or lakes. If you want to know more curiosities on the subject, do not hesitate to read these articles that we recommend about the difference between oceans and seas or why rivers and lakes are important.

Throughout the history of humanity, all kinds of meteorological phenomena have happened that have left us amazed. Water swirls are no less. Therefore, here are some examples of the most important water swirls:

Messina Strait Swirl

This is one of the three water swirls bigger in the world. It is located in Italy, in the Strait of Messina. In Greek mythology, Caribdis and Escila were marine monsters that lived on each side of the strait. They sucked and returned water while taking the sailors who crossed there, including characters from the Odyssey. Far from Greek mythology, this monster is really Messina’s swirl, which receives rapid currents of 10 kilometers per hour. Today this narrow is avoided by sailors during seasons of strong winds, full and new moons due to the risk of being sucked.

Bairuzú

Bairuzú’s water swirl is neither more nor less than Three water swirls that come together To form a large one on the Paraná River, which runs through Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. This swirl is very violent. The movement of its waters can be heard in the distance and, even, boats have been swallowed. For this reason, it was part of aboriginal myths where a giant snake was believed to feed on barges. Has been registered with depths up to 57 metersbut this depends on the amount of water that the river takes.

Maelstrom

On the coasts of the Lofoten Islands in Norway, a powerful swirl called Maelström, of 10 meters in diameter by 5 meters deep. It originates because two currents are in the small Strait of Saltsraumen, known for receiving 400 million cubic meters of water at 40 kilometers per hour with strong tides. This translates into a violent difference in currentsto which also adds a peculiar terrestrial inclination that causes high tide and low tide to meet. In ancient times this whirlpool was a real problem for navigators, since their candle ships were helpless before the powerful traction force of the vortex. Travelers of the nineteenth century have related how the swirl broke ships and even killed whales. Fortunately, today’s technology has made ships not so defenseless to these types of external causes.

There are those who use the term Maelström to refer to giant water swirls, but is mostly used to refer to the one in Norway.

Naruto swirls

Between the inner sea and the Kii channel, in Japan, several swirls caused by the tidal difference occur. They are presented only with the influence of the tide by the moon, specifically with the full or new moon. During the first and summer, with the so -called King’s tides, they can reach a diameter of 20 meters and speed of 20 kilometers per hour. Naruto’s Sweepd Set is one of the three largest in the world. A tourist bridge has been created around it so that the aquatic show is appreciated from 45 meters high.

Niagara swirl

This swirl occurs in the Niagara River, on the border between Canada and the United States. It was generated 4200 years ago by the erosion of the soil steep decline Because of the flow of ascending water. The water that comes out of the niágara throat on this erosion generates the swirl, which has a depth of 38 meters. The water revolves in favor of the clock hands with a normal water flow, but when the water is greater the direction rotates conversely.

It is important that when you go to an unknown site you investigate as much as possible to know the particularities of the environment. Even when an aquatic surface looks calm, a swirl can pull you down, so it is vital to know its presence to avoid risks. The most dangerous swirls are the oceanics. It is essential to know how to swim If you want to enter the water with a whirlpool, because the way out of it is swimming. In simple steps, what you should know to understand how to get out of a swirl of water is the following:

1. Keep calm.
2. Take air as soon as possible to travel the process.
3. Swollen: Swing against the countercurrent will only exhaust you.
4. Get the lower current of lesser force: thanks to getting carried away by the swirl. To be able to do it, you first have to increase your weight, for which you must form a ball taking your limbs.
5. Go down the water swirl: As you go down, you will feel that the current loses strength and will release you. It is at that time when you can swim outside the swirl.
6. Swim at a short distance under water: To go to the surface away from the swirl and not be introduced again.

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