TheNaruto whirlpools(Minh môn の oa triều,Naruto no Uzushio)are tidalwhirlpoolsin theNaruto Strait,achannelbetweenNarutoinTokushimaandAwaji IslandinHyōgo,Japan.The strait between Naruto and Awaji island has a width of about 1.3 km (0.81 miles). Thestraitis one of the connections between thePacific Oceanand theInland Sea,a body of water separatingHonshūandShikoku,two of the main islands of Japan. The tide moves large amounts of water into and out of the Inland Sea twice a day. With a range of up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft), thetidecreates a difference in the water level of up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) between the Inland Sea and the Pacific. Due to the narrowness of the strait, the water rushes through the Naruto channel at a speed of about 13–15 km/h (8–9 mph) four times a day, twice flowing in and twice flowing out. During aspring tide,the speed of the water may reach 20 km/h (12 mph), creatingvorticesup to 20 m (66 ft) in diameter.
The current in the strait is the fastest in Japan and the fourth fastest in the world after theSaltstraumenoutsideBodøinNorway,which reaches speeds of 37 km/h (23 mph), theMoskenstraumenoff theLofotenislands inNorway(the originalmaelstrom) reaching 27.8 km/h (17.3 mph); and theOld Sow whirlpoolinNew Brunswick,Canadawith up to 27.6 km/h (17.1 mph).
The whirlpools can be observed from the shore on Awaji island, from tourist ships, or from the Uzunomichi Walkway of the 1985Ōnaruto Bridgespanning the strait. The suspension bridge has a total length of 1,629 m (5,344 ft), with the center span over the strait having a length of 876 m (2,874 ft) and a height of 41 m (135 ft) above sea level.
The whirlpools inspired the name fornarutomakisurimi and the name ofNaruto Uzumakifrom the manga and animeNaruto,"Uzumaki" (うずまき) meaning "whirlpool". The storyline starts with building the Great Naruto Bridge (なると đại kiều,Naruto Ōhashi) into The Land of Waves ( sóng の quốc,Nami no Kuni) which is based on the Naruto Bridge spanning the Naruto Strait.
See also
editExternal links
edit34°14′18″N134°39′05″E/ 34.23833°N 134.65139°E
 | This Tokushima location article is astub.You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |