The whirlpool is caused by local bathymetry and a 20-foot (6.1 m) tidal range[1] where waters exchange between Passamaquoddy Bay and the Bay of Fundy, combined with the topography of the location's sea floor at the confluence of the numerous local currents through channels and over small sea mounts.[2]
The whirlpools form in an area with a diameter of approximately 250 feet (76 m), as determined by the president of the Old Sow Whirlpool Survivors' Association in 1997 by way of an aerial photograph.[3] The photograph was calibrated using the Deer Island Point Light beacon tower of known width that was included in the photograph.
Old Sow is one of five significant whirlpools worldwide (Corryvreckan, Scotland; Saltstraumen, Norway; Moskstraumen, Norway; and the Naruto whirlpools, Japan are the others).[2] Although the tidal currents within Western Passage surrounding Old Sow compare with faster whirlpools elsewhere, the speed of Old Sow's vortex is considerably slower than the Moskstraumen, the world's most powerful whirlpool.
Tremendous water turbulence occurs locally in the greater Old Sow area, but it does not usually constitute a navigation hazard for motorized vessels with experienced operators at the helm; however, small craft—especially vessels with keels (sailboats) and human-powered vessels—are warned to avoid these waters when the tide is running.[4]
Besides Old Sow and its numerous "piglets" (small and medium whirlpools surrounding Old Sow), other area phenomena include standing waves, upwellings (that on rare occasion may even spout several feet into the air), and 10–17 feet (3.0–5.2 m) deep or more, circular and trench-shaped depressions in the water.
The failed Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project/"Quoddy Dam" Project saw a series of tidal dikes constructed during the 1930s to connect Moose Island (Eastport, Maine) to Carlow Island (in Eastport), Carlow Island to Pleasant Point and to connect Treat Island (in Eastport) to Dudley Island (in Lubec, Maine). The changes in local water flow from the dikes reportedly reduced predictability of the "funnel" effect of Old Sow.[5]
Referencesedit
^Management, United States Bureau of Land (1976). Proposed 1977 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale Offshore the North-Atlantic States. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, New York OCS Office.
^ abBurnie, David; Dipper, Frances (2008-07-21). Ocean: The World's Last Wilderness Revealed. Penguin. p. 80. ISBN978-0-7566-5706-2.
whirlpool, largest, tidal, whirlpool, western, hemisphere, located, southwestern, shore, deer, island, brunswick, canada, northeast, shore, moose, island, principal, island, eastport, maine, origin, editthe, whirlpool, caused, local, bathymetry, foot, tidal, r. Old Sow is the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere located off the southwestern shore of Deer Island New Brunswick Canada and off the northeast shore of Moose Island the principal island of Eastport Maine Origin editThe whirlpool is caused by local bathymetry and a 20 foot 6 1 m tidal range 1 where waters exchange between Passamaquoddy Bay and the Bay of Fundy combined with the topography of the location s sea floor at the confluence of the numerous local currents through channels and over small sea mounts 2 The whirlpools form in an area with a diameter of approximately 250 feet 76 m as determined by the president of the Old Sow Whirlpool Survivors Association in 1997 by way of an aerial photograph 3 The photograph was calibrated using the Deer Island Point Light beacon tower of known width that was included in the photograph Old Sow is one of five significant whirlpools worldwide Corryvreckan Scotland Saltstraumen Norway Moskstraumen Norway and the Naruto whirlpools Japan are the others 2 Although the tidal currents within Western Passage surrounding Old Sow compare with faster whirlpools elsewhere the speed of Old Sow s vortex is considerably slower than the Moskstraumen the world s most powerful whirlpool Tremendous water turbulence occurs locally in the greater Old Sow area but it does not usually constitute a navigation hazard for motorized vessels with experienced operators at the helm however small craft especially vessels with keels sailboats and human powered vessels are warned to avoid these waters when the tide is running 4 Besides Old Sow and its numerous piglets small and medium whirlpools surrounding Old Sow other area phenomena include standing waves upwellings that on rare occasion may even spout several feet into the air and 10 17 feet 3 0 5 2 m deep or more circular and trench shaped depressions in the water The failed Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project Quoddy Dam Project saw a series of tidal dikes constructed during the 1930s to connect Moose Island Eastport Maine to Carlow Island in Eastport Carlow Island to Pleasant Point and to connect Treat Island in Eastport to Dudley Island in Lubec Maine The changes in local water flow from the dikes reportedly reduced predictability of the funnel effect of Old Sow 5 References edit Management United States Bureau of Land 1976 Proposed 1977 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale Offshore the North Atlantic States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management New York OCS Office a b Burnie David Dipper Frances 2008 07 21 Ocean The World s Last Wilderness Revealed Penguin p 80 ISBN 978 0 7566 5706 2 Into the Vortex Old Sow Whirlpool Godfrey Robert August 2001 Close Encounters With the Old Sow Smithsonian Magazine Retrieved 2021 04 18 Eastport Maine Tidal Project newengland com 2015 08 25 Retrieved 2018 08 07 External links editOld Sow Whirlpool Old Sow Whirlpool Survivors Association Old Sow Whirlpool Bay of Fundy44 55 26 N 66 59 12 W 44 923852 N 66 986561 W 44 923852 66 986561 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Old Sow whirlpool amp oldid 1197451602, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
