The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world (due to the tidal force working with the natural rhythm of the oscillating water in the bay, the shape of the bay; and the topography of the bottom of the bay.) The record was 55 feet in depth, and the typical is in the mid forties. The name Fundy probably comes from a Portuguese word for funnel. The Portuguese explorers were first to document the tremendous amount of water that moves into and out of the bay as early as mid 1500s. The volume of water that goes into and out of the bay in 12 hours exceeds all the rivers in the world. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick border on the Bay of Fundy. The rivers that flow into the bay actually reverse direction during high tide. This tidal bore (Norse word for wave) shows up with a great force and appears as a large wave with white water forces. Salmon swimming upstream get a break and even a free ride during the high tide. Fishing boats tied to wharfs must rest on cradles on the dry river bottom during low tide and wait for high tide to be able to set out. A fishing day is measured between high tides, since this is the only time that they are afloat. Many beaches have ¾ mile or more to the water’s edge during low tide and no beach at all during high tide.
Dramatic examples of this are: (1) Hopewell Rocks which were created by the dramatic twice-daily tidal erosion. We walked along the ocean floor at low tide there and returned at high tide to see kayakers paddling among the rocks; (2) our drive across the ocean floor to Ministers Island. We made sure to get our car back before high tide; and (3) photos attached of the fishing boats in the harbor at low and again at high tides.
The “Saints Come Marching In” along our path next as we continue on to St. Martins, St. John, St. George, St. Andrews, and St. Stephen, all in New Brunswick. We are following the Fundy scenic highway all along the Bay of Fundy to the Atlantic Ocean.
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