maelstrom

A maelstrom is a powerful tidal whirlpool formed when opposing tidal currents meet in a constricted coastal channel or around shoals and islands. The resulting vortex can produce strong swirling and rapid vertical motion, capable of drawing objects toward the center and moving large volumes of water through a narrow passage. The term is used in nautical contexts and, metaphorically, to describe chaotic conditions.

Etymology: The word maelstrom comes from Dutch maalstroom, meaning grinding stream. It entered English in the 18th century and is sometimes written maelström in other languages.

Mechanism: Maelstroms arise where bathymetry and coastline funnel tidal energy, such as narrows, straits, and shelves. As tides rise and fall, currents converge and shear against obstacles, forming vortices whose size and intensity vary with the tide and conditions.

Examples: The Saltstraumen near Bodø, Norway, is often cited as one of the strongest tidal currents in the world, producing visible whirlpools when tides change. The Moskstraumen, off Moskenesøya in the Lofoten archipelago, is another well-known example.

In culture: The maelstrom has appeared in literature and art as a symbol of uncontrollable forces. Edgar Allan Poe’s A Descent into the Maelström popularized the term in English-language literature.