Experience the majesty of the Bay of Fundy, One of the Marine Wonders of the World!
Descend to the ocean floor and walk amongst the famous “tree-tufted” flowerpot rocks – unusual sandstone formations sculpted by the endless churning of the tides. Then only hours later, when 100-billion tonnes of seawater rolls in twice daily, kayak the world's highest tides or climb aboard a boat that will take you to the playground of the whales.
Whether you explore the Fundy Coastal Drive by foot, by car, by pedal or paddle, the bay delivers an ocean of wonder-filled adventures.
The Bay of Fundy Phenomenon
Why are the tides so high?
First of all, the Bay of Fundy is shaped like a 290-km (180-mi.) funnel – wide at one end and gradually tapering at the other. The gradual tapering and shallowing constricts the tidal flow into the bay. Secondly, the Bay of Fundy experiences something call the “Seiche Effect” – similar to the wave action produced by sloshing water back and forth in a bathtub, each wave higher than the previous one. It is this comparison which led to the Bay of Fundy being called “the world’s largest bathtub”, with tides rising to the height of a four-storey building.
The Bay of Fundy has been accepted by
UNESCO into its Man and the Biosphere
global network. The reserves are not
strictly protected areas, but are intended
as vehicles for sharing knowledge, research
and monitoring, education and training,
and participatory decision-making as well
as conservation. The Fundy Biosphere
Regional Network, a stakeholder group,
has launched innovative practices for
sustainable development.
Fundy Facts
Some interesting tidbits to tantalize the trivia buffs:
- The constant stirring of the nutrient-rich waters cause immense blooms of plankton that nourish the 15 species of whales that visit the Bay of Fundy.
- Thirty-four species of shorebirds have been recorded, using the marshes and mudlands of the upper Bay of Fundy.
- The Bay of Fundy is a rich source of dinosaur footprints, bone and plant fossils.
- Between 75 to 95 percent of the world’s population of semi-palmated Sandpipers depend on the Bay of Fundy mudflats for their survival. One sandpiper can eat between 9,000 and 20,000 microscopic mud-shrimp per day to double its weight over an eight- to 12-day period for a 72-hour, non-stop flight to South America for the winter.
Best Atlantic Views (Reader's Digest June 2006)
''Home to the world's highest tides, the Bay of Fundy is a fantastic place to take in the vistas. Stand atop this World Heritage Site, where soaring sand-coloured cliffs continually reveal fossils as the ocean erodes the rock face, and look northwest towards Cape Enrage and it's historic lighthouse - it's truly breathtaking, especially at sunrise. Stroll Cape Enrage's seven-kilometre-long fossil beach to take in the view from sea level, and you just might glimpse a porpoise or two."