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Top 10 Interesting Facts about Bay of Fundy, NB

The Bay of Fundy is located on the Atlantic Coast between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The bay is famous for its unique features that attract tourists to the spot. The thundering waves are what welcomes a visitor to the bay and thus ensure that they feel a change in the atmosphere from their normal surroundings.

Therefore, to ensure that one makes the most out of the trip to the Bay of Fundy, they need to do extensive research so that when they reach there they know what to anticipate and which activities to partake in. Therefore, this article will provide ten interesting facts about the bay so that visitors can get knowledge and a deeper insight into the historic site.

1. It has the world’s largest tides

The Bay of Fundy is notable for having the world’s largest tides. The tides reach a height of 11 feet with tides at the Minas Basin hitting 43 feet on average. Spring experiences the highest tides as they go up to 53 feet. This makes for a spectacular view that attracts tourists to the area.

While visiting the bay, tourists can anticipate seeing two high and low tides each day. The shape and size of the bay are what make the tides so unique. Also, the amount of water that comes in and out of the bay makes the tides to be higher than in any other place.

2. The Hopewell Rocks

The Hopewell Rocks which are also known as the Flowerpot Rocks are among the marvellous geological features found at the Bay of Fundy. The rocks were formed as a result of continuous erosion that was brought by the strong tides seen in the area.The rocks are located at the shores of the bay. When the tides advance and retreat, they make the base of the rocks erode and thus leave unique shapes that look like a flowerpot. Coupled with the green trees, the scenery makes for a spectacular sight.

3. Mudflats

There are mudflats found at the Bay of Fundy which were a result of the high tides experienced at the bay. The mudflats are located in the upper region of the bay. The mudflats are formed when sediments accumulate in the coastal area. They are critical to the bay’s ecosystem since they provide habitat and food to the migratory birds which pass by the bay while migrating to their breeding grounds in Spring.

4. The tidal bore

This is another interesting geological feature found at the bay. The tidal bare is also caused by the tides that are so strong and therefore cause rivers to reverse their flows temporarily. When there is a reversal of water, a wavefront is created which in turn results in a tidal bore.

5. The Fundy National Park

The bay also features a national park which means that people who visit the attraction site get a lot of variety in terms of the activities and things that they want to do because the bay has a variety of natural sites. The national park is famous because it provides great wilderness features and great hiking trails. The undeveloped coastlines will be ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who want to go hiking because the national park has a serene environment that will allow them peace of mind.

6. The bay features a diverse ecosystem

The bay features a diverse ecosystem that is coupled with marine biodiversity which can be compared to that of the Amazon Forest. The waters have a lot of dolphins, 12 species of whales, seabirds, porpoises and seals. Therefore this means that the Bay of Fundy is an ideal place for researchers to test and come up with the new phenomenon. This makes the place a critical place where the knowledge base of a particular phenomenon is increased.

Furthermore, the bay is an ideal place to go and watch the whales. The best month to experience whale watching in August.

7. The whirlpool

Apart from the high tides, the Bay of Fundy also features other interesting phenomena with a whirlpool being one of them. The whirlpool is known as the Old Sow Whirlpool which is considered to be the largest in the western hemisphere. The whirlpool forms when the tidal currents enter the bay and combine with the counter-currents that come from the St. Croix River.

The whirlpool is active 3 hours before the high tide and therefore, tourists should ensure that the time is well so that they can experience this beautiful view.

8. There are sea caves at the bay

The sea caves atBay of Fundy-Wikimedia

There are sea caves along the shores of the bay in St. Martins that was formed as a result of erosion by the powerful tides. The sandstone caves are carved by the tides that hit the rocks and thus cause them to rode forming deep fissures that then become caves.

During the low tide, tourists can explore the caves and ensure that they get a wholesome experience.

9. The strong currents experienced at the bay

When there is a high tide, the eastward flow of water that goes to the Minas basin through the Minas passage is said to be 40 times greater than the flow of fresh water that enters the Gulf of St. Lawrence from the St. Lawrence River. These currents are very strong that the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy has been established to monitor the currents and also look into how they can be used to create energy for the town.

10. It is a major tourist spot

With its diverse features that give the tourist a lot to see and learn from, the Bay of Fundy is a major tourist attraction site. The atmosphere of the site allows one to have peace of mind and unwind as it is calm. This means that outdoor enthusiasts will tend to visit the place because it offers a diverse ecosystem which ensures that they are fulfilled.