































© Reuters
0 / 32 Fotos
Natural phenomenon - Every year, a rare phenomenon occurs deep in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil.
© Reuters
1 / 32 Fotos
Tidal bore - The right alignment of the sun and moon reverses the flow of the tide, meaning that the Atlantic Ocean's waters will move upstream, forming a tidal bore.
© Reuters
2 / 32 Fotos
Long and devastating - The tidal bore can travel as far as 800 km (497 miles) inland and devastates everything in its path.
© Reuters
3 / 32 Fotos
"Pororoca"
- In Brazil's Amazon rain forest, the famous phenomenon is locally known as "Pororoca."
© Reuters
4 / 32 Fotos
Ancient - The name originates from the local indigenous language.
© Reuters
5 / 32 Fotos
Meaning - There are different views on what it means exactly, but some of the most common interpretations are that it means "great roar," "destroyer," or "great blast."
© Reuters
6 / 32 Fotos
Thunderous - This is because Pororoca can be heard way before it hits the area, with some saying as much as 30 minutes to an hour before!
© Reuters
7 / 32 Fotos
Fast and loud - It travels at speeds of 16 to 24 km (10 to 15 miles) per hour. It's like a roar that gets louder until it finally arrives.
© Reuters
8 / 32 Fotos
Meaning
- Another interpretation of the word comes from separating it into two words: "poroc" (which essentially means "to take out") and "oca" ( which means "house").
© Reuters
9 / 32 Fotos
Demolishing - This also makes sense, as the Pororoca is such a powerful phenomenon, it destroys everything in its path.
© Reuters
10 / 32 Fotos
Mearim River - The Mearim River, in particular, is a hot spot for experiencing one of the most powerful tidal bores in the world.
© Reuters
11 / 32 Fotos
Extreme surfing - Every year, surfers (like Flavio Marao (R) and Sergio Roberto) flock to the area to surf the long and dangerous Pororoca.
© Reuters
12 / 32 Fotos
Dangers - Due to its devastating force, the waves are usually full of debris, including whole tree trunks!
© Reuters
13 / 32 Fotos
Dangers - But surfers have more to worry about than just the flora, as they also have to worry about the fauna.
© Reuters
14 / 32 Fotos
Dangers - Piranhas, crocodiles, snakes, and other animals can be found in the river waters.
© Reuters
15 / 32 Fotos
Record - Brazilian surfer Picuruta Salazar holds the record of the longest wave surfed for the longest time. He rode a 12.5-km-long (7.4 mile) wave for 37 minutes.
© Reuters
16 / 32 Fotos
Riding the Pororoca - Brazilian surfer Savio Carneiro riding the Pororoca.
© Reuters
17 / 32 Fotos
Scenery - Surfing in the middle of the Amazon rain forest can be a magical experience.
© Reuters
18 / 32 Fotos
Fun - Surfers share a long Pororoca wave in the river.
© Reuters
19 / 32 Fotos
Ready to ride the beast - Brazilian surfers prepare to catch the thunderous tidal bore wave during a competition on the Mearim river.
© Reuters
20 / 32 Fotos
Daring surfer - Brazilian surfer Noelio Sobrinho rides the long Pororoca tidal wave.
© Reuters
21 / 32 Fotos
Crowd - A crowd gathers on the river bank to support the surfers who brave the Amazon's wave.
© Reuters
22 / 32 Fotos
Fun ride - Brazilian surfer Marcelo Bibita having a good time riding a long left.
© Reuters
23 / 32 Fotos
Surfing the wave - Noelio Sobrinho, another Brazilian surfer who ventures into the waters of the Mearim river.
© Reuters
24 / 32 Fotos
Local rider - Sergio Laus can be seen riding the Pororoca wave.
© Reuters
25 / 32 Fotos
Not just a surfer's wave - A Brazilian bodyboarder does a spin on a wave.
© Reuters
26 / 32 Fotos
Ready to go - Rider Noelio Sobrinho jumps into the water to catch some waves.
© Reuters
27 / 32 Fotos
Competition - Ricardo Tatui (L) and Rogerio Dantas (R) ride the Pororoca.
© Reuters
28 / 32 Fotos
Local support - The locals cheer the surfers riding the Pororoca.
© Reuters
29 / 32 Fotos
Catching the wave - Surfer Rogerio Dantas jumps into the Mearim River to catch a wave.
© Reuters
30 / 32 Fotos
Man overboard
- A man dives into the Mearim River to escape the devastating force of the Pororoca wave during a competition. See also: Everything you always wanted to know about surfing
© Reuters
31 / 32 Fotos
© Reuters
0 / 32 Fotos
Natural phenomenon - Every year, a rare phenomenon occurs deep in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil.
© Reuters
1 / 32 Fotos
Tidal bore - The right alignment of the sun and moon reverses the flow of the tide, meaning that the Atlantic Ocean's waters will move upstream, forming a tidal bore.
© Reuters
2 / 32 Fotos
Long and devastating - The tidal bore can travel as far as 800 km (497 miles) inland and devastates everything in its path.
© Reuters
3 / 32 Fotos
"Pororoca"
- In Brazil's Amazon rain forest, the famous phenomenon is locally known as "Pororoca."
© Reuters
4 / 32 Fotos
Ancient - The name originates from the local indigenous language.
© Reuters
5 / 32 Fotos
Meaning - There are different views on what it means exactly, but some of the most common interpretations are that it means "great roar," "destroyer," or "great blast."
© Reuters
6 / 32 Fotos
Thunderous - This is because Pororoca can be heard way before it hits the area, with some saying as much as 30 minutes to an hour before!
© Reuters
7 / 32 Fotos
Fast and loud - It travels at speeds of 16 to 24 km (10 to 15 miles) per hour. It's like a roar that gets louder until it finally arrives.
© Reuters
8 / 32 Fotos
Meaning
- Another interpretation of the word comes from separating it into two words: "poroc" (which essentially means "to take out") and "oca" ( which means "house").
© Reuters
9 / 32 Fotos
Demolishing - This also makes sense, as the Pororoca is such a powerful phenomenon, it destroys everything in its path.
© Reuters
10 / 32 Fotos
Mearim River - The Mearim River, in particular, is a hot spot for experiencing one of the most powerful tidal bores in the world.
© Reuters
11 / 32 Fotos
Extreme surfing - Every year, surfers (like Flavio Marao (R) and Sergio Roberto) flock to the area to surf the long and dangerous Pororoca.
© Reuters
12 / 32 Fotos
Dangers - Due to its devastating force, the waves are usually full of debris, including whole tree trunks!
© Reuters
13 / 32 Fotos
Dangers - But surfers have more to worry about than just the flora, as they also have to worry about the fauna.
© Reuters
14 / 32 Fotos
Dangers - Piranhas, crocodiles, snakes, and other animals can be found in the river waters.
© Reuters
15 / 32 Fotos
Record - Brazilian surfer Picuruta Salazar holds the record of the longest wave surfed for the longest time. He rode a 12.5-km-long (7.4 mile) wave for 37 minutes.
© Reuters
16 / 32 Fotos
Riding the Pororoca - Brazilian surfer Savio Carneiro riding the Pororoca.
© Reuters
17 / 32 Fotos
Scenery - Surfing in the middle of the Amazon rain forest can be a magical experience.
© Reuters
18 / 32 Fotos
Fun - Surfers share a long Pororoca wave in the river.
© Reuters
19 / 32 Fotos
Ready to ride the beast - Brazilian surfers prepare to catch the thunderous tidal bore wave during a competition on the Mearim river.
© Reuters
20 / 32 Fotos
Daring surfer - Brazilian surfer Noelio Sobrinho rides the long Pororoca tidal wave.
© Reuters
21 / 32 Fotos
Crowd - A crowd gathers on the river bank to support the surfers who brave the Amazon's wave.
© Reuters
22 / 32 Fotos
Fun ride - Brazilian surfer Marcelo Bibita having a good time riding a long left.
© Reuters
23 / 32 Fotos
Surfing the wave - Noelio Sobrinho, another Brazilian surfer who ventures into the waters of the Mearim river.
© Reuters
24 / 32 Fotos
Local rider - Sergio Laus can be seen riding the Pororoca wave.
© Reuters
25 / 32 Fotos
Not just a surfer's wave - A Brazilian bodyboarder does a spin on a wave.
© Reuters
26 / 32 Fotos
Ready to go - Rider Noelio Sobrinho jumps into the water to catch some waves.
© Reuters
27 / 32 Fotos
Competition - Ricardo Tatui (L) and Rogerio Dantas (R) ride the Pororoca.
© Reuters
28 / 32 Fotos
Local support - The locals cheer the surfers riding the Pororoca.
© Reuters
29 / 32 Fotos
Catching the wave - Surfer Rogerio Dantas jumps into the Mearim River to catch a wave.
© Reuters
30 / 32 Fotos
Man overboard
- A man dives into the Mearim River to escape the devastating force of the Pororoca wave during a competition. See also: Everything you always wanted to know about surfing
© Reuters
31 / 32 Fotos
Surfing Amazon's endless wave
Every year surfers flock to the jungle to surf a unique wave
© Reuters
There are some truly amazing natural phenomena in this world. Nature can deliver the most spectacular things known to humankind, and some of us can, and do, make the most out of these events.
Tidal bores are one of these magnificent phenomena. One in particular takes place in the Amazon rain forest, where every year, ocean water travels upstream. A force to be reckoned with, tidal bores are usually devastating and unforgiving. These masses of water will destroy everything in their path, but they do so in the form of waves. And as you can imagine, this can only be good news for surfers.
Despite being extremely dangerous, every year surfers flock to this part of the world to ride one of the most unique waves in the world.
Grab your surfboard and ride through the gallery to find out more.
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