une 14 (Friday) leave Ørnes Return to Trip Itinerary... 10:30 am
*** Ornes to Kjøpstad / Saltstraumen 90 km 12:00 noon
#### Saltstraumen is created when the tide tries to fill the Skjerstad fjord.. 14:23 (max current...)
Saltstraumen is the strongest tidal current, or maelstrom, in Europe. The height difference of the sea surface can be as much as 1 meter or 3 feet between the inside and the outside of the narrow sound. In the attempt to level out the two sides, the water increase its speed and turns into something that looks like a very strong river. However this "river" has a twist , it runs both ways. Within a time frame of 6 hours a massive 372 million cubic meter of sea water passes through a 150 meter wide and 31 meter deep passage. The speed of the stream is estimated to be up to 22 knots or 40 km per hour, and it is about 3 km long. Huge whirlpools are formed , sometimes they can be as much as 10 to 15 meters in diameter. The current is strongest around new and full moon.
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