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whirlpool |
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whirlpool, revolving current in an ocean, river, or lake. It may be caused by the configuration of the shore, irregularities in the bottom of the body of water, the meeting of opposing currents or tides, or the action of the wind upon the water. There are no true whirlpools really dangerous to shipping; the Maelstrom, near Norway, and Charybdis Charybdis , in Greek mythology, a female monster. Because she stole Hercules' cattle, Zeus hurled her into the sea. There she lay under rocks across from Scylla and sucked in and spewed out huge amounts of water, creating a whirlpool.
..... Click the link for more information. , near Sicily, are subjects of legend and myth, and Corrievrekin Corrievrekin or Corryvreckan , whirlpool in Corrievrekin passage N of Jura island, Argyll and Bute, W Scotland. ..... Click the link for more information. , near Scotland, was feared by the sailors of small boats. The Whirlpool Rapids below Niagara Falls are remarkable for their volume and violence, caused by an irregularity in the Niagara River channel. There is also a whirlpool below Victoria Falls Victoria Falls, waterfall, c.1 mi (1.6 km) wide with a maximum drop of 420 ft (128 m), in the Zambezi River, S central Africa, on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border. The falls are formed as the Zambezi plummets into a narrow chasm (c. ..... Click the link for more information. in S Africa. whirlpool a powerful circular current or vortex of water, usually produced by conflicting tidal currents or by eddying at the foot of a waterfall whirlpool [′wərl‚pül] (oceanography) Water in rapid rotary motion. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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