Watch: Amazing wave video captures why Nazare in Portugal is surfing mecca

The Portuguese town of Nazaré is among Europe's hottest surfing draws. 

Located in the Oeste region, it boasts arguably the biggest ridable waves in the world, magnified by an underwater canyon 5km deep which ends where the North Atlantic meets the shoreline near the former fishing village.

Hawaiian Garrett McNamara put Nazare on the map in 2011 when he set a then world record for the biggest wave ever surfed at 78 feet (23.77 metres).

Brazilian Rodrigo Koxa bettered McNamara's mark in 2017, also at Nazare, and German Sebastian Steudtner broke the record again there in 2020, surfing an 86-feet (26.21-metre) wave.

Stunning photographs of the breaking waves have drawn tourists in their droves, with viewing points such as the lighthouse at the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo extremely popular.

Now photographer Ben Hartley has shot a stunning video which captures the majestic waves in all their immense glory.

Reuters and agencies