The mutual interaction of two isolated lenslike eddies is examined with the aid of a laboratory experiment on a rotating table. The isolated anticyclonic eddies are formed by withdrawing two cylinders containing a mixture of Freon (with a density of 1.53 gm cm−3), and silicone oil (with a density of 0.853 gm cm−3). The cylinders are embedded in water, and the collapse of the mixture forces two identical lenslike eddies (with an anticyclonic circulation) on the bottom of the tank. Initially, the lenslike eddies are completely separated from each other so that one vortex does not “know” about the presence of the other. Due to small bottom friction, the vortices spin down slowly so that after some time their edges meet and they touch each other, forming a “figure 8” structure. After this happens there is a rapid (i.e., within 20 revolutions) interleaving of the two eddies. Arms are extended from one vortex to the other and the vortices become one unit consisting of two main lenses. As the interactio... Abstract The mutual interaction of two isolated lenslike eddies is examined with the aid of a laboratory experiment on a rotating table. The isolated anticyclonic eddies are formed by withdrawing two cylinders containing a mixture of Freon (with a density of 1.53 gm cm−3), and silicone oil (with a density of 0.853 gm cm−3). The cylinders are embedded in water, and the collapse of the mixture forces two identical lenslike eddies (with an anticyclonic circulation) on the bottom of the tank. Initially, the lenslike eddies are completely separated from each other so that one vortex does not “know” about the presence of the other. Due to small bottom friction, the vortices spin down slowly so that after some time their edges meet and they touch each other, forming a “figure 8” structure. After this happens there is a rapid (i.e., within 20 revolutions) interleaving of the two eddies. Arms are extended from one vortex to the other and the vortices become one unit consisting of two main lenses. As the interactio...