The
visitors of Chalkida, the chief town of the
island of Euboea in Greece, may notice a strange phenomenon while looking at
the sea. The water is constantly moving while changing direction of movement. Sometimes
towards the North and sometimes towards the South Evian.
The Evripos strait with
39m. width, 40m. length and 8.5 m. depth is the narrow channel of water
separating the island of Euboea from the mainland Greece. It is subject to
strong tidal currents with different direction of movement four times a day
(every six hours with the exception of 8-10 minutes when the waters stay
completely still).
This phenomenon is attributed to the moon’s gravitational pull and the difference in sea level between the north and the south parts of the gulf of Euboea. Other factors for this strange occurrence are the seabed, the morphology of the coast and the direction of the winds. Since ancient times, the crazy waters of Chalkida have provoked the interest and the fascination of travelers and remain till now one of the most popular attractions of the city.
