“Thanks to Alaska’s famous BORE TIDE, surfers can ride ten-foot (3M) tall waves in the ocean just outside of Anchorage.”

National Geographic Kids, 5,000 Awesome facts

According to Wikipedia, a tidal bore is described as;

“a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave (or waves) of water that travels up a river or narrow bay, reversing the direction of the river or bay’s current. It is a strong tide that pushes up the river, against the current.” That’s pretty cool.

The bore tide in Alaska is called the “Turnagain Bore”, and it is also called the “Bore Tide Wave.” It happens twice daily with speeds of 6-24 mph. It can be 40-50 miles in length as it comes crashing into the Arm of Turnagain in the northern part of Alaska.

There are about 60 bore tides in the world, and Alaska’s tide is one of the largest , and the only one that is bordered by mountains.

Among surfers, seals and sometimes Beluga whales will be riding the wave looking for the food the bore provides from stirring up the river.

Best time to witness a large wave is the 5 day window when the new and full moon are happening.

That is an awesome phenomenon and one that Charley (she’d love to attempt) and I would love to see, not surf, one day.

So far Alaska has some really cool sites, and this is an awesome fact.