Praia do Norte (‘North Beach’) is a beach located in Nazaré, Portugal, which due to its giant white breaking waves is famed for its surfing conditions. Nazaré's waves were listed on the Guinness Book of Records for the biggest waves ever surfed.

Praia do Norte
View of the beach from the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo
Location of Praia do Norte
Location	Nazaré, Leiria District, Portugal
Coordinates	39°36′43″N 9°05′08″W
Geology	Beach

Tow-in surfing near the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo lighthouse

Giant breaking waves in Praia do Norte

The Praia do Norte (North Beach) was listed on the Guinness World Records for the biggest waves ever surfed (formed under the influence of the Nazaré Canyon)

Overview

Praia do Norte’s very high breaking waves form due to the presence of the underwater Nazaré Canyon.[1] The canyon creates constructive interference between incoming swell waves which tends to make the waves much larger.

In November 2011, surfer Garrett McNamara, who resides in Hawai'i, surfed a record-breaking giant wave: 23.8 m (78 ft) from trough to crest, at Praia do Norte in Nazaré, Portugal.[2] On 28 January 2013, McNamara returned to the spot and successfully surfed a wave that appeared even larger, but is awaiting an official measurement as of November 2018.[3]

On November 8, 2017, Brazilian surfer Rodrigo Koxa broke the previous record surfing an 24.4 m (80 ft) wave at Praia do Norte which was captured in a video that went viral over social media.[4]

See also

• List of beaches in Portugal
• Supertubos
• List of surfing records

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Praia do Norte (Nazaré).

• Praia do Norte, Nazaré – Live Beachcam (Southern view)
• Praia do Norte, Nazaré – Live Beachcam (Northern view)