Monster waves: All you need to know about the marine phenomenon

Monster waves are particularly high waves and are also called cavemen. They used to be considered a myth, but have been officially recognized since 1995.

What are monster waves?

Monster waves occur mainly where there are strong ocean currents. Well-known locations include Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America and the eastern and south-eastern regions of South Africa.

• A monster wave is defined as such when the average height of a swell is exceeded by at least double.

• Monster waves are significantly shorter than normal waves. However, they have a particularly high speed.

• Monster waves usually have a very steep front. The so-called White Wall is particularly worth mentioning here. Here you can see the spray spraying down from the crest of the wave and behind it follows a deep wave trough

• The so-called Kaventsmann is a very fast and large wave. It follows a different direction to that of the normal swell.

• Then there is the phenomenon of the Three Sisters. Here, three (possibly two or more) large waves follow one another. There are narrow valleys in between. There is a particularly high risk of ships being overrun by these waves