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:

• a role playing game, see Maelstrom (role playing game)
• a LARP game, see Profound Decisions
• a musical project by former synth pop group Alphaville member Frank Mertens
• an early nineties computer game by Ambrosia Software, see Maelstrom (computer game)
• a Marvel Comics fictional supervillain comic figure, see Maelstrom (comics)
• a 1986 single by blues and rock and roll guitarist and performer Steve Miller
• a science-fiction tactical-table game, see VOR: The Maelstrom
• a synthesizer in the computer program Reason
• a ride at Epcot's Norway Pavillion
• a spell in the popular strategy game called Starcraft. It is cast by a Dark Archon.
• a spell in the RPG series Tales of. Grune (Tales of Legendia) and Anise (Tales of the Abyss) can cast this spell.
• an area of Space in Star Trek: Bridge Commander
• a music album from a scandinavian Rockband named JR Ewing

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 the game Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends, Maelstrom is the name of Lu Bu's level 11 weapon

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