ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Turnagain Arm bore tides have been turning out lots of photographers this year -- just ask John Gomes.
Gomes, a photographer for the Alaska Zoo, heard a rumor that a bore tide was expected in Turnagain Arm on Monday night. He jumped in his car loaded with photography gear and parked at Bird Point.
When the bore tide arrived, at 6:19 p.m., he shot spectacular video of surfers riding the waves. Mountains can be seen in the background as the water, moving as fast as 10 to 15 mph, heads ashore.
“It was a great bore tide for me,” Gomes said, “This is only the second one I’ve seen -- I was impressed.”
Bore tides are a rare but powerful tidal phenomenon found in dozens of locations around the world -- including Turnagain Arm -- where the force of an incoming tide drives water against an existing body of water’s prevailing currents.
