Maelstrom

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Image:Saltstraumen.jpg

A maelstrom is a powerful whirlpool; a large, swirling body of water. The word is a portmanteau of the Dutch words malen (to grind) and stroom (stream). The original Maelstrom is the Moskstraumen, a powerful tidal current in the Lofoten Islands off the Norwegian coast.

Maelstrom is also the name of several works of popular culture:

There is also a short story by Edgar Allan Poe called "A Descent into the Maelstrom" (inspired by legends about the Moskstraumen), an impressionist piece of music by Julian Cochran titled "Maelstrom" as well as short story by Arthur C. Clarke called "Maelstrom II", featured in his book "The Wind from the Sun".

In 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne concludes his novel at Poe's maelstrom.Template:Disambig