Pororoca
The pororoca (Portuguese pronunciation: [poɾoˈɾɔkɐ]) is a tidal bore, with waves up to 4 metres high that travel as much as 800 km inland upstream on the Amazon River and adjacent rivers. Its name comes from the indigenous Tupi language, where it could translate into "great roar". It could be also a Portuguese version of the term poroc-poroc, which in the native indigenous' language was a way of expressing the act of destroying everything.[1] It could be also a portmanteau of the words poroc (to take out, to tear away) and oca (house).[1] It occurs at the mouth of the river where its waters meet the Atlantic Ocean. The phenomenon is best seen in February and March.
The wave has become popular with surfers. Since 1999, an annual championship has been held in São Domingos do Capim (on the adjacent Guamá River). However, surfing the Pororoca is especially dangerous, as the water contains a significant amount of debris from the shores of the river (often entire trees), in addition to dangerous fauna. In 2003 the Brazilian Picuruta Salazar won the event with a record ride of 12.5 km lasting 37 minutes. The longest time captured on tape riding the wave is also by Picuruta, lasting 43 minutes.
Along the branches or "caños" in the Orinoco Delta, pororoca is known as macareo, which is also the name of one of these branches.
Popular Culture
- In 2012 the Pororoca was featured in an ad campaign by South African bank Investec.
- The "Pororoca Effect" was featured in a 2014 episode of Space Dandy, "There's Music in Darkness, Baby".