Very cool facts

What are whirlpools?
A whirlpool is a body of swirling water formed when two opposing currents meet. Whirlpools may form wherever water is flowing, from creeks and streams to rivers and seas. Any whirlpool that contains a downdraft – one capable of sucking objects beneath the water’s surface – is called a vortex. Whirlpools also form at the base of waterfalls and man-made structures such as dams.

Most of these phenomena are not very powerful. Even the swirling water formed when the stopper is removed from a sink or bath could properly be called a whirlpool. There are, however, some very powerful and dangerous whirlpools. A maelstrom is defined as a particularly “large, powerful, or violent whirlpool.” Maelstroms typically form in the ocean near narrow straights as a result of the tides.

What’s at the bottom of a whirlpool?
Whirlpools are not, in fact, bottomless pits. Experiments have shown that whirlpools often pull objects to the bottom of the sea bed. They may then be moved along the sea floor by ocean currents. If the object can float, it may come back to the surface a long way from where the whirlpool is located.

Did You Know? Due to the Coriolis effect – the force of the Earth’s rotation – large whirlpools in the Northern Hemisphere tend to spin counter clockwise, while whirlpools in the Southern Hemisphere tend to spin clockwise.

Are Whirlpools Dangerous to People?
Large ships are generally in no danger from whirlpools, although some reports from ancient history say otherwise. It is thought that the mythical Charybdis of the Greeks may have been a whirlpool off the coast of Sicily, capable of swallowing small ships.

Small boats and swimmers must use caution around whirlpools. As with any other current, the moving water can overpower a swimmer and pull him beneath the water, causing drowning.

Famous Whirlpools
A few whirlpools are large enough and powerful enough to merit our attention. These whirlpools are long-lasting, some having been on maps for centuries.

Saltstraumen – Saltstraumen is the strongest maelstrom in the world. It is located off the coast of Norway near the Arctic Circle. The Saltstraumen forms four times a day as the tides carry large amounts of water through a small channel only 490 feet (150 meters) wide. The currents reach speeds of 25 miles per hour (40 kilometers per hour). When ships must pass through the area, they do so during the short windows of time in which the maelstrom is not active. Thousands of tourists visit the city of Bodø to view the maelstrom at high tide, when it is the strongest.
Moskstraumen – The Moskstraumen is a system of several whirlpools located off the coast of Norway. It owes its formation to the area’s unusual shape of the ocean floor and a combination of powerful tides. Moskstraumen contains the second strongest whirlpool in the world. The water currents there can reach speeds of 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour). Famous writers Jules Verne and Edgar Allen Poe used this whirlpool as a plot element in their stories.
Corryvreckan – The Corryvreckan Whirlpools is the third largest whirlpool in the world. It is located in a narrow straight on the north side of Scotland’s Gulf or Corryvreckan. Waves in the area can reach 30 feet (9 meters) in height, and the currents reach speeds of 11 miles per hour (18 kilometers per hour). Corryvreckan may also be the world’s loudest whirlpool, as it can be heard nearly 10 miles (16 kilometers) away. Corryvreckan has been known to pull objects down to a measured depth of 860 feet (262 meters). Corryvreckan is categorized by the British navy as being “very dangerous.”
Other notable whirlpools include the Old Sow Whirlpool near New Brunswick, Canada, which is said to make a sound similar to a pig, and the 16 mile per hour (26 kilometer per hour) Naruto whirlpools off the coast of Japan.

10 fun facts about sheep
What do you know about sheep? Don’t let the term ‘sheepish,’ often used to describe people who mindlessly follow others, fool you…sheep are intelligent animals and are capable of more than just following the flock. Here are 10 fun facts you may not know about these farms animals that you’ll have to read to baa-lieve!

1. Sheep have rectangular pupils
Rectangular pupils allow for a wide field of vision, around 270 to 320 degrees. This means that sheep can see almost everything around them, except for what’s directly behind them, without having to turn their heads! As prey species, this helps sheep stay aware of their surroundings and watch for predators, even when their head is down grazing.
2. Sheep have an excellent sense of smell
One way sheep communicate with each other and their surroundings is through scent. Sheep have scent glands in front of their eyes and between the digits of their hooves that produce smelly secretions used to communicate with one another!

3. Ewes recognize their lamb’s bleat
Sheep also communicate through vocalizations, often called bleating. A female sheep that has given birth to a lamb is called an ewe. Ewes are able to recognize which lamb is theirs just by the sound of their calls.

4. Counting sheep? There are over 1000 breeds of sheep!
With all of these different breeds, there exists some very unique characteristics.

Some breeds of sheep, like the Hebridean and Navajo-Churro, possess the polycerate gene, meaning they have the ability to grow two, four, and even six horns!
Racka sheep are unique in that both males and females have long, spiral-shaped horns.
Najdi sheep have long, silky hair, rather than curly wool like other sheep breeds.
5. Sheep are clever animals
Despite some popular beliefs, sheep are intelligent animals with great memories. Research has shown that sheep can recognize up to 50 other sheep faces, and remember them for two years. They are even able to recognize human faces! Other studies have shown that sheep are capable of remembering how to navigate complex mazes.

6. Sheep can self-medicate
Sheep use plants and other substances that otherwise hold no nutritional value to them to prevent or treat disease, and teach their young to do them same.

7. Sheep are emotionally complex with distinct personalities
Sheep are capable of experiencing a wide range of emotions, just as humans do. Many studies have highlighted the ability of sheep to feel afraid, angry, bored, sad, and happy. Not only are sheep able to feel basic emotions, but their feelings can be very complex. For example, scientific studies have shown that sheep can be pessimists or optimists!
8. Sheep are highly social animals
A group of sheep is called a flock, but sheep do not remain in flocks simply for protection from predators. Sheep form strong bonds with one another, such as those between a mother and her lamb, and other friendships. Studies have revealed that sheep can distinguish between different emotional expressions, such as pictures of sheep with calm, startled, or fearful expressions. This is a very important skill for sheep to have, as knowing how other sheep are feeling is the basis for forming strong social relationships and keeping the flock safe.

9. Sheep have an upper lip that is divided by a distinct groove
This groove is called a philtrum. Sheep are selective grazers, and prefer to eat vegetation close to the soil surface. The philtrum allows them to get close to the ground and only select the grasses and other vegetation that they like.

10. Sheep do not have top front teeth
Missing teeth? No problem! Sheep have a hard upper palate that the lower teeth press up against to breakdown food.