This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this articlebyadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Tidal race" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Tidal raceortidal rapid is a natural occurrence whereby a fast-moving tide passes through a constriction, resulting in the formation of waves, eddies and hazardous currents. The constriction can be a passage where the sides narrow, for example the Gulf of Corryvreckan and the Saltstraumen maelstrom, or an underwater obstruction (areef or rising seabed), such as is found at the Portland Race in the United Kingdom.
In extreme cases, such as Skookumchuck NarrowsinBritish Columbia, through which tides can travel at more than 17 knots, very large whirlpools develop, which can be extremely hazardous to navigation.