Bay of Fundy
You will find the Bay of Fundy on Canada’s east coast shoreline. This bay extends between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. One of the things this bay is most well known for is the highest tidal range! It even has records in the Guinness Book of World Records! The highest tides were in 1975 at Burntcoat Head. These tides are very fascinating to learn about and a little bit scary too! What is the highest wave you have ever seen? We bet it’s nothing like what you’re about to learn!
Bay of Fundy for Kids
- At the Bay of Fundy, tides can reach an incredible 16 m (53,5 feet ) at certain times during the year – if you don’t know how tall it is, look up at a building to the third floor and that’s the height!
- The moon is one of the causes of the tides. The moon’s gravitational pull alters tides around the world! This affects the rise and fall of the tides in the Bay of Fundy too.
- Another factor that causes such high tides here is the way the bay is shaped.
- Did you know that the spring tides at the Bay of Fundy are usually the highest? This does not actually mean during the season of spring, this refers to the bi-monthly event when the moon and sun align and their gravitational pull affects the tides.
- Another time when there are scary high tides is when the moon is at its closest point to the earth. This event will happen after 206 days in the cycle – start counting on your calendars!
- Do you know what seiche is? It’s the rocking motion of the water in the Bay of Fundy that goes from the front to the back of the bay. This takes 13 hours! The ocean tide helps with this rocking motion and this happens every 12 hours and 25 minutes to be exact!
- These high tides and constant rocking along the bay has caused erosion but it’s actually created some lovely things! These things are sandstone statues, beautiful beaches and even some caves!
- This incredible bay is one of the 7 Wonders of North America!
- There is also a whirlpool in the Bay of Fundy! It has been named the Old Sow Whirlpool. This particular whirlpool is the largest in the Western Hemisphere at 75 meters wide. Did you know that the swirling of a whirlpool is thought to be a good thing for the environment?
- Some people compare Bay of Fundy’s ecosystem to the Amazon’s rainforest ecosystem because of the diversity!
- There are some amazing species found in the Bay of Fundy such as whales, seals, fish, dolphins and sea birds! The wonderful whales make this a great place for tourists to go whale watching.
- Because of the incredible wildlife in the area, there are many reserves along the bay that serve to protect the animals and their habitat.
Question
1. What year was the highest tide at the Bay of Fundy recorded?
2. What does seiche mean?
3. Name three species found in the Bay of Fundy’s ecosystem.
4. What causes the high and low tides in the oceans of the world?
5. How wide if the Old Sow Whirlpool in the Bay of Fundy?
