In the winter season, the waves here reach a height of around 30 meters.

Which, by now, has created a massive following. Also, because some surfers had the idea to actually surf these waves.

Many so-called Big Wave surfers exist in the world. And when the news arrives that the conditions in Nazaré promise the chance for huge waves, they all come to travel to the small Portuguese coastal town.

With them, an audience, many thousands strong, lines up at the lighthouse to watch this unique spectacle.

The waves are created due to a very specific locational phenomenon. There is a large underwater canyon close to the town, which allows the waves to travel incredibly fast and gain much more momentum. Additional water and underwater currents, as well as storms in the Atlantic Ocean, help to create these quite literal sea monsters.

Certainly worth a visit!