Maelstrom (The Tides of Time)

The Maelstrom was a literal "whirlpool in space and time", (COMIC: The Tides of Time) defined by Iris Wildthyme in a letter to her companion Panda as "that mysterious region in which Space and Time are completely buggered up". (PROSE: From Wildthyme with Love) It was one of the mediums through which one could travel through Time. (PROSE: Elementary, My Dear Sheila) similar to the Time Vortex (TV: A Good Man Goes to War) or the Very Fabric of Time and Space. (PROSE: Mad Dogs and Englishmen)

History
The Malestrom was created when Melanicus stole control of the Event Synthesizer from the Prime Mover. It was considered the "Domain of Melanicus", and from its depths, he orchestrated the Millennium Wars.

When the Fifth Doctor and Sir Justin entered the Malestrom at the request of the Matrix Lords, they found themselves in the surreal, dreamlike reality of a demonic carnival, and then later a haunted house. While only seeming to spend a few hours in the Maelstrom, the Doctor discovered upon escaping they had been trapped within for twenty-eight years, allowing the Millennium Wars to rage unchecked. (COMIC: The Tides of Time)

Trying to meet Panda in 1979 Paris, Iris Wildthyme set the coordinates in the Celestial Omnibus but "went a bit off-kilter" while traversing the Maelstrom. As a result, she ended up on a jungle planet where assembled galactic delegates were awaiting some evil space robots, instead. (PROSE: From Wildthyme with Love) The Maelstrom ceased to exist when Sir Justin slew Melanicus and the Event Synthesizer was returned to the Prime Mover (who then ensured the Millennium Wars never existed). (COMIC: The Tides of Time)