Old Sow is the name of the largest tidal whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere located off the southwestern shore of Deer Island, New Brunswick, Canada between that island and Moose Island, the principal island of Eastport, Maine.
According to popular etymology the name “Old Sow” is derived from “pig-like” noises the whirlpool makes when churning; however, a more likely origin is the word “sough” (pronounced “suff”), defined as a “drain,” or a “sucking sound.” Early settlers to the area may easily have mispronounced “sough,” as “sow,” due to its similar spelling to other words with “sow-sound” endings, such as “plough.”
The whirlpool is caused by local bathymetry and extreme tidal range where waters exchange between Passamaquoddy Bay and the Bay of Fundy, combined with the unusual topography of the location’s sea floor at the confluence of the numerous local currents.
The whirlpools form in an area with a diameter of approximately 250 feet/75 metres, as determined by the president of the Old Sow Whirlpool Survivors’ Association in 1995 by way of an aerial photograph. The photograph was calibrated using the Deer Island Point light beacon tower of known width that was included in the photograph.
Old Sow is one of five significant whirlpools worldwide (Corryvreckan, Scotland; Saltstraumen, Norway; Moskstraumen, Norway; and Naruto, Japan are the others). Although the tidal currents within Western Passage surrounding Old Sow compare with faster whirlpools elsewhere, the speed of Old Sow’s vortex is considerably slower than Moskstraumen, the world’s most powerful whirlpool.
Tremendous water turbulence occurs locally in the greater Old Sow area, but it does not usually constitute a navigation hazard for motorized vessels with experienced operators at the helm; however, small craft — especially vessels with keels (sailboats) and human-powered vessels — are warned to avoid these waters when the tide is running.
Besides Old Sow and its numerous “piglets” (small and medium whirlpools surrounding Old Sow), other area phenomena include standing waves, upwellings (that on rare occasion may even spout several feet into the air), and 10-to-17-feet-deep or more, non-vortexing depressions in the water.
The failed Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project/”Quoddy Dam” Project saw a series of tidal dikes constructed during the 1930s to connect Moose Island (Eastport, Maine) to Carlow Island (in Eastport), Carlow Island to Pleasant Point and to connect Treat Island (in Eastport) with Dudley Island (in Lubec, Maine). The changes in local water flow from the dikes reportedly reduced predictability of the “funnel” effect of Old Sow.

Smithsonian Magazine article

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/journey_encounters.html