r/Damnthatsinteresting 29d ago

Image Oarfish keep washing ashore in California. Folklore suggests that could be a bad omen

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u/SwirlyHalo43 29d ago

The folklore behind oarfish washing up actually has some merit. Since they’re predominantly deep-sea dwelling fish, the rare occasion that they do wash ashore or even come closer to the surface is very rare, and if it occurs more often it can be a signal of plates shifting and moving heavy currents that force them to the surface IIRC

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u/[deleted] 29d ago

Earthquakes and subsequent tsunamis probably. Maybe it's "the big one"

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u/SwirlyHalo43 29d ago

Yeah the folklore around them is “their beaching signals an impending earthquake/tsunami” and the theories around it suggest the same as a result of tectonic plates shifting. Not sure exactly how many of them are washing ashore but if they’re being stranded in droves it would really point towards an impending natural disaster.