MAELSTROM, a very dangerous whirlpool on
the coast of Norway, in the 68th degree of latitude, in
the province of Nordland, and the district of Lofoden,
and near the island of Moskoe, from whence it also
takes the name of Moskoe-strom. Its violence and
roarings exceed that of a cataract, being heard to a
great distance, and without any intermission, except a
quarter every sixth hour, that is, at the turn of high
and low water, when its impetuosity seems at a stand,
which short interval is the only time the fishermen can
venture in: but this motion soon returns, and, however
calm the sea may be, gradually increases with such a
draught and vortex as absorb whatever comes within
their sphere of action, and keep it under water for
some hours, when the fragments, shivered by the
rocks, appear again. This circumstance, among o-
thers, makes strongly against Kircher and others, who
imagine that there is here an abyss penetrating the
globe, and issuing in some very remote parts, which
Kircher is so particular as to assign, for he names the
gulph of Bothnia. But after the most exact researches
which the circumstances will admit, this is but a con-
jecture without foundation; for this and three other
vortices among the Ferroc islands, but smaller, have
no other cause, than the collision of waves rising and
falling, at the flux and reflux, against a ridge of rocks
and shelves, which confine the water so that it precipi-
tates itself like a cataract; and thus the higher the
flood rises, the deeper must the fall be; and the nat-
ural result of this is a whirlpool or vortex, the pro-
digious suction whereof is sufficiently known by lesser
experiments. But what has been thus absorbed, re-
mains no longer at the bottom than the ebb lasts; for
the suction then ceases, and the flood removes all at-
traction, and permits whatever had been sunk to make
its appearance again. Of the situation of this amazing
Moskoe-strom we have the following account from Mr
Jonas Ramus, "The mountain of Helfeggen, in Lof-
uden, lies a league from the island Ver, and betwixt
these two runs that large and dreadful stream called
Moskoe-strom, from the island Moskoe, which is in the
middle of it, together with several circumjacent isles,
as Ambaaren, half a quarter of a league northward,
Iffesen, Hoeholm, Kieldholm, Suarven, and Buck-
holm. Moskoe lies about half a quarter of a mile
south of the island of Ver, and betwixt them these
small islands, Otterholm, Flimen, Sandlesen, Stock-
holm. Betwixt Lofuden and Moskoe, the depth of
the water is between 36 and 40 fathoms; but on the
other side, towards Ver, the depth decreases so as not
to afford a convenient passage for a vessel, without the
risk of splitting on the rocks, which happens even in
the calmest weather: when it is flood, the stream runs
up the country between Lofuden and Moskoe with a
boisterous rapidity; but the roar of its impetuous ebb
to the sea is scarce equalled by the loudest and most
dreadful cataracts; the noise being heard several leagues
off, and the vortices or pits are of such an extent and
depth, that if a ship comes within its attraction, it is
inevitably absorbed and carried down to the bottom,
and there beat to pieces against the rocks; and when
the water relaxes, the fragments thereof are thrown up
again. But these intervals of tranquillity are only at
the turn of the ebb and flood, and calm weather: and
last but a quarter of an hour, its violence gradually re-
turning. When the stream is most boisterous, and its
fury heightened by a storm, it is dangerous to come
within a Norway mile of it; boats, ships, and yachts
having been carried away, by not guarding against it
before they were within its reach. It likewise happens
frequently, that whales come too near the stream, and
are overpowered by its violence; and then it is impos-
sible to describe their howlings and bellowings in their
fruitless struggles to disengage themselves. A bear
once attempting to swim from Lofuden to Moskoe,
with a design of preying upon the sheep at pasture in
the island, afforded the like spectacle to the people;
the stream caught him, and bore him down, whilst he
roared
Mæmacte-ria Mæstlin. roared terribly, so as to be heard on shore. Large stocks of firs and pine trees, after being absorbed by the current, rise again, broken and torn to such a degree as if bristles grew on them. This plainly shows the bottom to consist of craggy rocks, among which they are whirled to and fro. This stream is regulated by the flux and reflux of the sea; it being constantly high and low water every six hours. In the year 1645, early in the morning of Sexagesima Sunday, it raged with such noise and impetuosity, that on the island of Moskoe, the very stones of the houses fell to the ground."