Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

The Moskenstrom
Chapter 15 -- The Maelstrom
An Arctic whirlpool, the Moskenstrom, can be observed at 67 degrees North, its cause being tidal
currents between Norway's Lofoten Point and Vaeroy Island. The satellite photo reveals the
complexity of ocean currents. The figure on the left is from a hydrodynamic computer model.
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Animation of the tidal current
The Moskenstrom isn't a single funneling vortex, but rather a family of eddies, each at most 50
meters in diameter, no more than 1 meter in amplitude and persisting from a few minutes to an
hour. The spread of disturbances can span 8 kilometers. The eddies rotate clockwise during the
rising tide and counterclockwise during the falling tide.
Ocean fog spills over the Mosken mountains
A combination of factors contributes to the Moskenstrom's creation.
A close-up
About 370 million cubic meters of water are transferred through a narrow channel in 6 hours,
creating currents of up to 22 knots.
The seabed gradient steeply rises from 500 to 20 meters.
The Moskenstrom faces the winds of the North Atlantic.
The current is most powerful when the tide is the greatest. Local lore that the vortex is at its
strongest on Good Friday has reason, as the holy day is determined by lunar calendar.
It's a phenomenon that engenders tales.
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