#corryvreckan

Gaelic Song Moodboards // Coire Bhreacan

Tha sùil na gruagaich oirbh gur maistreadh, gur tàladh làidir sios don chas-shruth.

Whirlpool/Maelström

When opposing currents meet, a swirling phenomenon occurs. At the point of interaction, a whirlpool forms. A small percentage of whirlpools are powerful. These larger, stronger whirlpools are called Maelströms.

In nature, whirlpools can quite often be seen in oceans and at the base of waterfalls. In the ocean, the main cause is the tide. The back and forth movement of the water meet and subsequently create a small whirlpool. The strength of those that form at the base of waterfalls are dependent on the size of the waterfall. Both the drop and the quantity of water play a major part in determining whether or not the whirlpool at the base will be powerful. An example of strong whirlpools are those that form at Niagara Falls.

Tsunamis that are created from massive earthquakes have also been proven to form maelströms. In this case they occur along the area of wave impact. The shape of the ocean floor plays a large role in the formation of these maelströms. The 2011 Tohoku Earthquake (Japan) triggered a tsunami that eventually led to a massive maelström. A Japanese news crew filmed this maelström. This footage has since gone viral.

One of the most famous maelströms is the Corryvreckan Whirlpool (in the photograph), found off the west coast of mainland Scotland. In 1947, George Orwell and a few of his family members had to be rescued from this whirlpool. It is also referred to as “The Gateway to Hell” among sailors region.

The direction in which the water spins in a maelström can be attributed to the Coriolis Effect. Anticlockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

Stories such as “A Descent into the Maelström” by Edgar Allan Poe and movies like Pirates of the Caribbean have greatly exaggerated Maelströms.

Note, while many whirlpools may appear small and undaunting, it will be a bad idea to attempt to swim through one or to even traverse one in a boat. The currents associated with whirlpools have been known to pull even experienced swimmers down to their death.

-Renesh T

Image source:

Walter Baxter - The Corryvreckan Whirlpool

http://bit.ly/1GkX8Df

Check out one of our recent articles regarding the Maelstrom of Saltstraumen by ANSH

http://on.fb.me/1GkVDF7

References/further reading:

http://bbc.in/TmDMt2

http://bit.ly/1ItC4JN

You were disappointed by dark stars and golden moonlight your own mind rejected everything it saw - or considered nothing before you dived headfirst into Corryvreckan - the whirlpool everpresent near the shore A narrow passage for the whole Atlantic to drain through at turning tides And like a Selkie you flicked your tail and disappeared forever.

An explanation of the tidal and geological features which on spring tides combine to produce turbulence and sometimes one large whirlpool in the Gulf of Corryvreckan. The Corryvreckan Gulf lies between the Islands of Jura and Scarba on the west coast of Scotland. This occurs every two weeks when the moons influence is greatest and the effect also varies depending on wind strength and direction.