Pororoca
Encyclopedia
The pororoca is a tidal bore
, with waves up to 4 metres high that travel as much as 13 km inland upstream on the Amazon River
and adjacent rivers. Its name comes from the indigenous Tupi language, where it translates into "great destructive noise". It occurs at the mouth of the river where river water meets the Atlantic Ocean
. The phenomenon is best seen in February and March.
The wave has become popular with surfers
. Since 1999, an annual championship has been held in São Domingos do Capim (on the adjacent Guamá River
). However, surfing the Pororoca is especially dangerous, as the water contains a significant amount of debris from the shores of the river (often entire trees), in addition to dangerous fauna. In 2003 the Brazilian Picuruta Salazar won the event with a record ride of 12.5 km lasting 37 minutes. The longest time captured on tape riding the wave is also by Picuruta, lasting 43 minutes.
Along the branches or "caños" in the Orinoco Delta, pororoca is known as macareo, which is also the name of one of these branches.
Tidal bore
A tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the river or bay's current...
, with waves up to 4 metres high that travel as much as 13 km inland upstream on the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and adjacent rivers. Its name comes from the indigenous Tupi language, where it translates into "great destructive noise". It occurs at the mouth of the river where river water meets the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. The phenomenon is best seen in February and March.
The wave has become popular with surfers
River surfing
River surfing is the sport of surfing either standing waves or tidal bores in rivers. Claims for its origins include a 1955 ride of 1.5 miles along the tidal bore of the River Severn...
. Since 1999, an annual championship has been held in São Domingos do Capim (on the adjacent Guamá River
Guamá River
-References:*...
). However, surfing the Pororoca is especially dangerous, as the water contains a significant amount of debris from the shores of the river (often entire trees), in addition to dangerous fauna. In 2003 the Brazilian Picuruta Salazar won the event with a record ride of 12.5 km lasting 37 minutes. The longest time captured on tape riding the wave is also by Picuruta, lasting 43 minutes.
Along the branches or "caños" in the Orinoco Delta, pororoca is known as macareo, which is also the name of one of these branches.