The Bay of Fundy is home to the rare tidal bore phenomena, where tides overpower the stream of outflowing rivers. Twice a day, at high tide, a large volume of water floods from the Bay of Fundy into the rivers that feed it. The narrow riverbanks compress the rising waters in a spectacular surge and a visible standing wave, sometimes 1 meter (3 ft) in height! As the roaring and swirling water races upstream at speeds close to 15 km per hour (10 mph) it generates rapids in its wake that are between 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. 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 interesting as it is to watch the tidal bore from the shore, it's even more fun to go white water rafting in it. This experience is unique to the Bay of Fundy because the Shubenacadie River, located in Nova Scotia, is the only place in the world where you can go tidal bore rafting.
During the summer season, skilled guides bring tourists on a one-of-a-kind, upriver white water rafting experience. These excursions usually include an incredibly enjoyable mud sliding session. Tidal bore rafting could just be the ultimate way to feel the Bay of Fundy tides hands on!
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
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