It is early morning and I am looking down at possibly one of the natural wonders of the world. It’s official. The Bay of Fundy, on Canada’s eastern seaboard between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, made it to the shortlist as one of the new Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Sadly, in a miscarriage of justice in my opinion, it didn’t make the final seven, but as far as I am concerned Fundy is a done deal anyway.
What’s all the fuss about? I’ll tell you what the fuss is about. It’s about 100 billion tons of water, that’s what. Twice a day, every day, this amount of water comes in and goes out again in a truly extraordinary tidal flow, that results in the water level rising some six feet every ten minutes. In the space of an hour, you can be driving along a road and then kayaking over it some fifty odd feet above it. Seriously. I know this, because I did just that. Of course, you wont want to be caught in the middle of the road with a flat when the tide starts to come back in!
It’s like the equivalent in power of 8,000 train engines or 25 million horses powering through a sea channel some 170 miles wide, or to put it another way, it’s more than the combined flow of all the world’s freshwater rivers. Apparently, the force of the water and the shape of the bay itself causes a rocking motion that creates this amazing tidal flow that is in effect self perpetuating.
There are also added benefits to this unique tidal flow from the abundant dolphin and whale that inhabit the bay area waiting for the huge amount of fish and seafood to get washed along with the tidal flow, (not to mention the delicious lobster and fresh fish that Fundy’s fisherman collect) to the impressive coastal rock formations carved from the tremendous water pressure applied to it over millions of years.
Just take a drive along St. Martins, or go to Hopewell Rocks in Fundy National Park and you’ll get some terrific views of the rugged coastline below and even get the chance to kayak the bay at high tide with Baymount Outdoor Adventures:
Alternatively you can take a boat tour from the quaint but historic town of St. Andrews right on the Bay of Fundy, and watch whales frolic in all their natural glory with Fundy Tide Runners or check out the lobsters with Lobster Tales Cruises
New Brunswick’s coastline is a pleasant alternative to Quebec, an undiscovered gem for many people seeking adventurous new outdoor pursuits. It has a wealth of water based sports and land based hiking, and for lovers of good food, some world class cuisine at prices well below those of its more illustrious US neighbours.
The Bay of Fundy is a natural wonder as far as I’m concerned and always will be.
Fundy Tide Runners $55pp
Lobster Tales Cruises $58.50pp
Baymount Outdoor Adventures: $59pp
