Surfing Pororoca, The World’s Longest Wave

For many surfers who crave the endless thrill of the water, there could be nothing better than an endless wave.

You may have wished for a nonstop wave like this—and in Brazil, where the Amazon River meets the Atlantic, your dream might just come true! The Pororoca is the name of the near-constant wave that travels along the river and gives aquatic adventurers a chance to enjoy the ride of a lifetime.

Below, see what makes the Pororoca so special to locals and visitors alike.

A wave rooted in native heritage
The Pororoca isn’t a new sensation—in fact, the native Tupi people are believed to have named it after the words for “great roar,” referencing the loud rush of the wave as it comes in. The name Pororoca might also be a Portuguese take on the word “poroc-poroc,” which referred to complete and utter destruction (which is certainly likely to have happened to structures and items too close to the wave!).

More than a bore
The Pororoca may technically be a tidal bore—but it’s far from boring! That name simply refers to the way an incoming tide forms a wave that moves up along a river. When it happens, the rush of the water can be heard for as long as an hour before it comes crashing in, creating the endless wave that so many surfers and outdoor adventurers flock to every year. Contests are held as surfers try to best one another on the water—in 2003, for example, one man rode the wave for more than six miles!

Factors that frame the perfect wave
There are certain times of year when the Pororoca is at its strongest and, in the eyes of extreme surfers, most enjoyable. During new or full moon, the river is a little shallower and water comes in at high tide from the ocean, forming the tidal bore—but when these moon phases coincide with the spring and autumnal equinoxes in March and September, the gravitational pull is doubled, and an even better wave can be experienced.

Have you ever ridden the Pororoca, or is it on your bucket list? Remember—even when you’re not riding the Pororoca, you can always enjoy an almost-endless wave on the wake of your very own Vortex!