The Nazaré Canyon is a submarine canyon just off the coast of Nazaré, portuguese Oeste region, in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean. It is the largest submarine canyon in Europe,[1] reaching depths of about 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) deep and a length of about 230 kilometres (140 mi).[2]
The canyon is being studied as part of the EU HERMES project using a remotely operated vehicle. The project is investigating the specialized canyon ecosystems, sediment transport and deposition, and the way in which the canyon influences and is affected by local ocean circulation.[3]
Sections
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The canyon can be divided into three distinct sections. The upper section extends from about 1 km (0.62 mi) off Nazaré to the edge of the continental shelf (up to 60 kilometres (37 mi)); it is composed of ravines and has a distinct V-shaped profile. The middle section of the canyon, defined by a tear in the 57 km (35 mi) long continental slope, extends from the edge of the platform to a depth of 4,050 m (13,290 ft). In this section, the canyon retains a V shape and is highly sinuous, with large ravines on the walls bordering the deepest part that defines the canyon's axis (called the thalweg). The bottom section is the deepest end of the canyon, with depths greater than 4,050 m (13,290 ft), and extends for about 94 km (58 mi). In this section, the thalweg loses the sharp characteristics of the shallower sections, shifting from a V-shaped profile to a flat, slightly sinuous floor. At a depth of 4,970 m (16,310 ft), 211 kilometres (131 mi) from the headland, the canyon reaches the Iberian Abyssal Plain.
Dynamics
editThe Nazaré Canyon functions as a ripple polarizer.[4] Waves are able to travel at a much greater speed due to the geological fault, arriving at the coast with virtually no dissipation of energy[dubious – discuss]. Praia do Norte consistently presents waves significantly larger than the rest of the Portuguese coast due to the canyon. The predominant northern currents function as sedimentary ducts, along which there is an intensification of the particle transport processes between the coastal zone and the deep sea domain, making the transport of particulate matter (sediments) throughout the entire canyon very efficient.[5] This underwater gorge causes major changes in the level of coastal sedimentary traffic, acting as a sink for sediments from the north, from coastal drift; this also explains the absence of large stretches of sand on the beaches south of Nazaré.[6]
The importance and interest in the natural phenomenon led the Portuguese Hydrographic Institute (IH), in collaboration with the Municipality of Nazaré, to install an exhibition that illustrates the knowledge acquired from the research carried out in the area. The Nazaré Canyon Interpretive Center, installed in one of the fort's rooms, houses informational posters, a three-dimensional model of the underwater valley and images and information about the German submarine U-963, which sank in Nazaré's waters at the end of World War II.[7]
Surfing
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One of the most distinct features of this canyon is the high breaking waves it forms.[8] This makes Nazaré, specifically Praia do Norte, a hotspot for big wave surfing.
In November 2011, Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara surfed a record breaking giant wave: 24 metres (79 ft) from trough to crest, at Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal.[9] In January 2013, it was reported he successfully rode a wave measuring an estimated 30 metres (98 ft) at the same location, possibly exceeding the size of his previous record-breaking wave.[10]
In January 2018, Hugo Vau might have smashed a world record amid claims he surfed one of the biggest waves ever seen at Nazaré, Portugal. The wave — nicknamed ‘Big Mama’ — was reported to be up to 35 metres high, which, if confirmed, would beat current Guinness Book of Records holder Garrett McNamara.[11][12]
Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa has officially broken the world record for the world's biggest wave ever to have been surfed, with his incredible run at Nazare beach in Portugal being recognized as a Guinness World Record.[13] In May 2018, the World Surf League confirmed this achievement at its Big Wave Awards in Santa Monica, California, with the official height of the wave registered at 24.38 m (80.0 ft).[14]
On February 11, 2020, at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal, Maya Gabeira broke the record for the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman on a record-setting wave measuring 73.5 feet (22.4 meters), besting her own previous world record of 68 feet. The 73.5-foot wave she surfed on February 11 in Nazaré was the largest wave surfed by anyone that year, earning Gabeira the WSL's 2020 women's XXL Biggest Wave Award. By contrast, that year's men's XXL Biggest Wave Award winner, Kai Lenny, rode a 70-foot wave.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Inês Martins, João Vitorino, Sara Almeida (2010). "The Nazare Canyon observatory (W Portugal) real-time monitoring of a large submarine canyon". Oceans'10 IEEE Sydney. IEEE. pp. 1–7. doi:10.1109/OCEANSSYD.2010.5603854. ISBN 978-1-4244-5221-7. S2CID 27320941. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "NAZARÉ CANYON". Portuguese Hydrographic Institute. Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-05-13.
- ^ "Submarine canyons". eu-hermes.net. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
- ^ Santos (2010), Luís dos. "Observação de ondas internas não-Lineares geradas sobre o canhão submarino da Nazaré" (PDF). Instituto Hidrográfico, University of Lisbon theme Oceanography. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Jesus (2011), Carlos César Dias de. "Vias de transporte de sedimentos finos recentes na margem continental central portuguesa". University of Aveiro (thesis). Retrieved 16 November 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Canhão de Nazaré". Câmara Municipal of Nazaré. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "Centro Interpretativo dá a conhecer fenómeno do Canhão da Nazaré". Região de Leiria. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "The Mechanics of the Nazaré Canyon wave". surfertoday.com.
- ^ "McNamara Claims Record For Biggest Wave Ever Surfed". 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Surfer rides 'highest ever' wave". BBC News. 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Biggest wave surfed: has Hugo Vau set a new world record in Portugal?". euronews. 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
- ^ portugal-press (2018-01-19). "Portuguese surfer conquers 35-metre "wave of all waves" in Nazaré". Portugal Resident. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
- ^ "Koxa's 80-foot Nazaré Bomb is the Biggest Wave Ever Ridden". 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Watch the incredible moment surfer Rodrigo Koxa breaks world record on 80ft wave". Independent.co.uk. May 2018. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18.
- [1] BBC - Garrett McNamara surfs 'highest ever' wave off Portugal.
- Robot sub explores giant canyon Shukman, David, (2007, June 19). In BBC News Online. Retrieved 02:02, June 20, 2007, from
- Physical processes in the Nazare Canyon area and related sedimentary impacts Vitorino, J., A. Oliveira and J. Beja, Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 7, 10187, 2005 SRef-ID: 1607-7962/gra/EGU05-A-10187