Whirlpool is a mass of water which spins around and around rapidly and with great force. A whirlpool may form in water for several reasons. It may occur when the water current strikes against a bank which has a peculiar form. It may also occur when opposing currents meet, and it may be caused by the action of the wind. Rocks or tides may get in the way of an ocean current. Whirlpools often form as a result.
There are several well-known whirlpools. One is the whirlpool in the gorge below Niagara Falls. This whirlpool was caused by the wearing away of a side basin out of the line of the river’s course. The Maelstrom, which is off the coast of Norway, is formed by rocks and tides that oppose the current. The Charybdis, between Sicily and Italy, is formed by winds, which act against the tidal currents. During storms the whirlpools become violent and dangerous to ships.
