A tide with the greatest range between high and low water, occurring when the sun and moon align during new or full moon phases. These extreme tides happen because gravitational forces combine rather than oppose each other.
From Old English 'springan' meaning 'to leap up,' not related to the season. The name captures how these tides seem to 'spring' or leap to unusual heights and depths compared to normal tides.
Spring tides can expose hidden underwater caves and reveal ancient shipwrecks that normally lie beneath the waves! They also trigger massive feeding frenzies as marine predators follow the extreme water movements to catch prey in the chaos.
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