The crazy waters of Euripus’ Strait: philosophy, oceanographic science and hydroelectric potential of a puzzling tidal phenomenon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17561/at.31.8870Keywords:
Euripus, Tidology, Tidal energy, Oceanography, Greek Hydrography ServiceAbstract
The water channel of Euripus on the Greek island of Euboia experiences a unique phenomenon, where strong tidal currents abruptly reverse direction. This paper will trace the historiography of tidal research in the Euripus Strait that culminated in the Greek Hydrography Service’s surveys in the Strait in the early 1920s. The creation of a thalassographic station on the Strait in 1921, will be also discussed as a milestone in Greek oceanography science. This paper will demonstrate that the establishment of an observation station on the Strait attested to the significance of Euripus in the infant Greek oceanographic community. Finally, this paper will include a short discussion on the potential of the Euripus’ tides to generate hydroelectrical energy. Even though some initial propositions to exploit the site’s tidal energy potential were first discussed by renowned Greek meteorologist Dimitrios Aiginitis back in the late 1920s- they have not hitherto materialized.
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