The Bay of Fundy has the extraordinary tidal bore phenomenon, which is where the incoming tide overpower the current of outflowing estuaries and rivers. Two times a day, around high tide, an enormous amount of seawater surges out of the Bay of Fundy directly into the estuaries and rivers which feed the bay. The narrowing riverbanks force the soaring tidal water in a incredible surge and often also a noticeable standing wave, at times 1 meter (3 ft) high! While the roaring and swirling seawater charges upstream at speeds in the region of 15 kilometers per hour (10 miles per hour) it produces rapids in its wake which can be in the range of 3 to 3.5 meters (10-12 ft) high.
Most rivers draining into the upper Bay of Fundy between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have tidal bores. Most of them are located on the Nova Scotia side of the bay. But, you may have trouble finding them without the help of some locals. A few great places to see a tidal bore are:
- The Petitcodiac River. Previously the greatest tidal bore in all of Canada And America exceeded 2 metres (6.6 feet); but, causeway development as well as substantial silting decreased it to nothing more than a small swell, until the causeway gates ended up being opened up on April 14, 2010 as a component of the Petitcodiac River Restoration project and as a direct result the tidal bore started to develop just as before.
- The bore is quickest and largest in a few of the smaller sized rivers which hook up to the Bay of Fundy such as the River Hebert and Maccan River on Cumberland Basin (approximately 10 mins out of Amherst), the St. Croix, Herbert and Kennetcook Rivers inside the Minas Basin, and also the Salmon River in Truro.
Visitors usually like to visit the sites with some interpretation panels like the ones found along the Maccan River and the Shubenacadie River near the South Maitland Tidal Bore look-off. You'll want to remember that the bore time does not necessarily match with the high tide times listed on a tide chart. It all depends on exactly where along the river you are watching, so it's best to check with some of the local outfitters beforehand.
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.
In the summer months, experienced guides take visitors on a one-of-a-kind, upriver rafting adventure. These adventures often also include an extremely fun mud sliding session. Tidal bore rafting might just be the best way to experience the Bay of Fundy tides first hand!
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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
