Experience the Bay of Fundy Tides
The world\’s highest tides are over 50 feet and can be found in the Bay of Fundy. In 6 hours, the Fundy tides rise over 22 times higher than the typical tides found in open seas. Eighty square miles of land along the bay\’s west coast are know as Fundy National Park. This park was established in 1948 and protects this piece of unique nature, where the tides and chilly waters have produced the ideal environment for salt and freshwater wetlands, coastal spruce and fir forests, along with a rocky, cave-pocked shore where the enormous tides have carved large rocks into fantastic shapes.
At Alma Beach, the contrast between low and high tide is so sensational that people have the ability to wander nearly three-quarters of a mile across the tidal flats towards the water\’s edge–then kayak that whole way some hours later, when 100 billion tons of tidal water have raced back in, producing a roar during mid-tide called the \”voice of the moon.\” You can find plant fossils millions of years old within the ancient sandstone rocks at the ocean\’s edge, and offshore, at low tide, bird watchers can observe how crustaceans trapped as a result of the ocean\’s retreat feed huge numbers of migratory shorebirds.
Nearby Alma, the park provides a manicured look, with gardens, natural stone walls, and quite a few sports activities, like golf and tennis, while offshore you\’ll be able to select from whale watching (the Bay of Fundy offers the most significant population of right whales anywhere), sea kayaking, and canoeing. Walking opportunities are plentiful, with 78 miles of trails cris-crossing the park\’s eight miles of bayside coastline as well as its hilly inland, whose rolling plateau is slashed by fast-flowing streams and deep valleys.
Those wanting scenery with less challenge can take the Fundy Coastal Drive from St. Stephen to Aulac, passing through not only natural beauty but some lovely towns as well, including the 19th-century village of St. Andrews with its distinguished Fairmont Algonquin Hotel. Built in 1889 to lure wealthy vacationers away from the city heat, the Algonquin is a manor-style gem, with a red-tile roof and bay views from the upper floors. If you\’d prefer something smaller, the Kingsbrae Arms is consistently rated as one of the area\’s best accommodations. Built in 1897, it has just eight units, all decorated with upscale good taste and offering lovely views of the bay. Next door, the Kingsbrae Garden offers 27 acres of flowers and views.
The Hopewell Rocks, forty miles northeast of Fundy National Park, are a number of immense boulders topped by trees and made concave at the bottom through hundreds of years of tidal erosion. These are by far the most photographed Bay of Fundy landmark. Local Mi\’kmaq legend tells us that the boulders were once men, who were turned to stone after they tried to break free from the whales that enslaved them.
Want to find out more about the Bay of Fundy tides, then visit my website on how to experience the best that the Bay of Fundy has to offer!