The Roar of Corryvreckan
Between two Scottish islands, a great whirlpool churns with the tide, and on still days its roar can be heard miles away.
What was reported
The Gulf of Corryvreckan is a narrow strait between the islands of Jura and Scarba off western Scotland. When the tide races through, it forms one of the largest whirlpools in the world, with standing waves several metres high.
Its roar can carry for many kilometres. Gaelic legend says it is the voice of the Cailleach, the winter hag, washing her great cloak in the whirlpool before the season turns.
Explanations offered
The whirlpool forms because strong tidal currents rush through the strait and over an uneven seabed, including a deep hole and a rock pinnacle that rises close to the surface. The roar is the sound of that turbulent water, which carries far over the sea on calm days.
- When
- Known for centuries
- Where
- Gulf of Corryvreckan, between Jura and Scarba, Scotland
- Witnesses
- Sailors and islanders
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.