Presents the centuries-old quest to understand the tides, from the age of antiquity to modern times, taking the listener to Nova Scotia, where the tides are the strongest in the world, Norway, home of the tidal whirlpool known as the maelstrom, and Venice, to explore efforts to defend the city against the "aqua alta" (high water). Also presents the science behind tidal lore, including the legends of Scylla and Charybdis, the story of Moses parting the Red Sea, the conquests of Julius Caesar, the Boston Tea Party, and the D-Day landings in Normandy.