Bay of Fundy

One of the most dramatic tides on Earth occurs at the Bay of Fundy, which lies between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada, where the tide regularly rises thirty-nine feet. An especially strong tide occurs when the earth, the moon, and the sun are all in line. This tide is called a spring tide (even though it has nothing to do with the season of spring). In the Bay of Fundy, the tide may raise as much as fifty-two feet during spring tide!

This animation demonstrates the tide rising and falling in the Bay of Fundy. It begins with low tide; you can see the boat sitting on dry land. The pier towers above the boat! Later in the same day during high tide, you can see the boat sitting even with the pier on the right.

Tidal bores, (also called tidal waves, which are not to be confused with tsunamis) are sometimes associated with areas that have particularly strong tides. The Bay of Fundy is one area that experiences tidal bores. Tidal bores form when an incoming tide rushes up a river; the ocean water flows in over the outgoing river water. To the observer, the river changes direction and flows inland instead of toward the ocean. Sometimes the change is so strong and powerful that it is devastating. The Quiantang River in China experiences dramatic tidal bores annually.

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