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.
The majority of estuaries and rivers flowing directly into the northern parts of the Bay of Fundy in between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick get tidal bores. Many of them can be found over on the Nova Scotia half of the Bay of Fundy. However, you might have difficulty discovering all of them without the assistance of a few local people. A few unique locations to check out a tidal bore include:
- The Petitcodiac River. Formerly the highest bore in North America at over 2 metres (6.6 ft); however, causeway construction and extensive silting reduced it to little more than a ripple, until the causeway gates were opened on April 14, 2010 as part of the Petitcodiac River Restoration project and as a result the tidal bore began to grow again.
- The bore is fastest and highest on some of the smaller rivers that connect to the Bay including the River Hebert and Maccan River on Cumberland Basin (about 10 minutes from Amherst), the St. Croix, Herbert and Kennetcook Rivers in the Minas Basin, and 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!
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 Nova Scotia at http://bayoffundy.com/52
