The ocean waves crashed into the towering cliffsides along the shore. Howling winds whistled through the mountain passes. Amidst the silent backdrop broken only by the murmuring water, a gigantic whirlpool suddenly materialized in the vast open sea. It spun furiously like a colossal sewing needle, devouring everything in its path. The swirling waters tossed about the fishing boats bobbing along the waves.
This was the intriguing natural phenomenon occurring daily in the narrow Naruto Strait between Awaji Island and Shikoku Island in Japan. During high tide, powerful currents from the Pacific Ocean surge into the Inland Sea, creating massive whirlpools ranging from 20-40 meters wide. The scene of whirlpools continuously forming and dissipating gives one a sense of human insignificance against nature’s majesty. It remains one of Japan’s most renowned tourist attractions.
