A good part of the population of the coast of Tenerifeespecially in the North, is accustomed to changes in the waves. They know that it is often a natural phenomenon associated with the tides. Extraordinary meteorological phenomena aside, the coast of the Island experiences episodes known as high tide and low tide (two each) at least four times a year, but there is one of them that is especially significant and that occurs just these days.
During these last days of September, the Atlantic Ocean is subject to the influence of the moon on the movement of water like never before the rest of the year in a phenomenon known as equinoctional tides and that in the case of Canary Islands it implies the most important tide rise of the year.
Hence, both the inhabitants of the coast and those who choose to go to spend a day at the beach will see how the sea rises higher than usual. This same Friday, for example, A large tongue of water entered the Alcaravaneras beach en masseto such an extent that the sand at times disappeared.
But there is a place where the neighbors are accustomed to the force of the sea, that is Garachico, in Tenerife. The town and port of the North of Tenerife is frequently the protagonist of numerous images of intense waves, and in the event that it occurs due toA meteorological phenomenon risks the infrastructure of the area closest to the sea.
Hence this equinoctional tide has also had its iincident in the Tenerife municipalitywith the tide so high that it takes up part of the breakwaters and coves that run along the coast of Garachico.
What are these strange tides?
The truth is that this type of equinoctial tide occurs twice a year: in March and December, coinciding with the days close to the equinoxes of spring and autumn. In this situation the Sun is in the plane of the Earth’s equator, so its effect is maximum and the tides are the liveliest than at any other time of the year.
The surface of the water is also strongly attracted by the Sun, which accentuates the tides. If there is also a alignment of the Moon with the Earth and the Sun, then the tides will be even stronger, giving rise to high intensity spring tides.
During these tides the low tide is amplified, revealing extensions of beach and coast that we cannot otherwise enjoy. However, the intensity of these tides means that sea level also rises with great virulenceand can cause flooding.
