Pororoca

The Pororoca (large noise ), also called the Amazon wave, is a continuous Tidenwelle up the Amazon.

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Formation and running

In February and March, the most Pororocas arise.

For full and new moon huge volumes of water from the Atlantic Ocean to 2 times a day down in the estuary. As the Amazon leads to this time very little water, the floods will not stop.

The resulting tidal wave piles up to five meters in height and starts - due to the low gradient of the river favors - roll up the stream. The wave reaches speeds of up to 65 kilometers per hour and is able to cover up to 800 km from Óbidos. On her way she takes everything with what you get in the way, and flooded the shorelines up to 100 meters inland.

The rumbling, announcing the arrival of the wave, long before they can visually perceive is called by the natives in the language of the Tupi poro'roka, which translates to " water thunder noise " means. Warned by this noise, one usually has enough time to leave the riparian zones.

Effects

Due to the destructive power of the wave, it is not difficult to surmise that it causes significant damage to the flora and fauna of the Amazon region. However, this is not the way. On the contrary. It seems as if nature has well adapted to this Riptide:

• The animals of the affected area seem to feel the danger instinctively. By naturalists, it was observed that they are long before the human ear hears the rumble, remove from the river and move into the rainforest. About an hour after the shaft they then return again. ( A similar behavior is shown by certain types of animals before earthquakes. According to eyewitnesses, Before the tsunami in 2004 are also many animals panic. )

• The shaft also helps that the Amazon does not silt. Through her strength she sweeps the bottom of the Amazon downright empty and store the sediments much further upriver again. (This is of course a " never ending story " because these sediments in the rainy season, when he again carries more water from the river at the latest, to be distributed again.)

• The Pororoca has an equally strong meaning as the Nile floods formerly for the Egyptians for the agriculture of the natives. The shaft carries tons of suspended solids and fertile alluvium, which hangs to share on the banks. After the wave, the Indians make haste then to fertilize their fields with this mud.

Tourism

In recent years, the Pororoca was attracting increasing numbers of tourists. In spring 2005, up to 1,000 people watched the shaft. However, the visitors must leave on the same day as it in the area are no accommodations and will not give in the future well: The distance traveled by the Pororoca area is National Park.

Since the nineties the Pororoca is popular among surfers. Since 1999 a corresponding competition will be held in São Domingos do Capim. 2003 succeeded Adilton Mariano, 34 minutes to slide on the giant wave. The Brazilian Picuruta Salazar was 37 minutes long surf the wave, but he lay back more than 12 kilometers.