The Bay of Fundy has the extraordinary tidal bore phenomenon, when incoming tides overpower the flow of outflowing estuaries and rivers. Twice daily, during high tide, a huge amount of seawater surges out of the Bay of Fundy straight into the estuaries and rivers which feed the bay. The tapered riverbanks force the soaring tidal water in a amazing surge and often a noticeable standing wave, occasionally 1 meter (3 ft) tall! When the roaring and swirling tidal water charges upstream at speeds around 15 kilometers per hour (10 miles per hour) it creates rapids in its wake which can be approximately 3 to 3.5 meters (10-12 ft) high.
Many estuaries and rivers flowing directly into the northern parts of the Bay of Fundy flanked by Nova Scotia and New Brunswick experience tidal bores. A lot of them are situated over on the Nova Scotia half of the Bay of Fundy. Nevertheless, you would probably have a tough time locating the best spots without the assistance of one or two local residents. A few unique spots to look at a tidal bore include:
- The Petitcodiac River. In the past the biggest tidal bore in all of Canada And America exceeded 2 metres (6.6 feet); unfortunately, causeway development and also widespread silting lessened it to nothing but a small swell, until the causeway gates got opened up on April 14, 2010 as a component of the Petitcodiac River Restoration project and as a direct result the tidal bore begun to increase just as before.
- The bore is swiftest and strongest in a number of the tinier rivers which flow into the Bay of Fundy such as the River Hebert and Maccan River on Cumberland Basin (roughly 10 mins out of Amherst), the St. Croix, Herbert and Kennetcook Rivers inside the Minas Basin, as well as the Salmon River in Truro.
People typically love to look at the locations which include interpretation panels just like the panels present along side the Maccan River as well as the Shubenacadie River nearby the South Maitland Tidal Bore look-off. You'll want to bear in mind that the bore time won't automatically match up with the high tide periods stated on a tide graph or chart. The whole thing is determined by precisely where along side the river you happen to be standing, so it is advisable to consult a few of the local outfitters ahead of time.
As fascinating as it is to observe the tidal bore from the riverbanks, it is much more entertaining to try white water river rafting in it. This kind of adventure is exclusive to the Bay of Fundy since the Shubenacadie River, found in Nova Scotia, is considered the one and only location on the planet where you can enjoy tidal bore rafting.
During the summer season, professional guides bring people on a one-of-a-kind, upriver white water rafting trip. These excursions generally include an exceptionally exciting mud sliding session. Tidal bore rafting may be the ideal way to feel the Bay of Fundy tides directly!
About the Author:
The Bay of Fundy tidal bore isn’t the only reason to visit us this summer. Check out our extensive list of 52 reasons to visit the Bay of Fundy at http://bayoffundy.com/52
