Pororoca - Amazonian Tidal Bore Surfing

Brazilian surfer Adilton Mariano surfs on the tidal bore wave, known as pororoca, on the Araguari River, in Brazil's northern state of Amapa. The Araguari pororoca is possibly the most dangerous of all the Amazonian tidal bores, long feared by locals for wreaking havoc on their communities. wave crests at 2 to 3 meters and races at speeds between 30 to 50 kilometers per hour. To catch it, surfers must leap from a motorboat as the wave barrels upriver. Since the wave only occurs twice per day when the incoming ocean tide reverses the river flow for a time, there are not many chances to catch it, The name "pororoca" comes from an Amazonian indigenous dialect meaning "destroyer" or "great blast." Since time immemorial, people have feared the roar which precedes the wall of water that capsizes boats and washes away anything in its path. Now, however, the people are less fearful and have begun to see the wave as a potential tourist attraction that could generate money in the state of one of the poorest of Brazil.(Douglas Engle/Australfoto)

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