Bay of Fundy

The world's highest tides, right now

Twice a day the sea pours into the Bay of Fundy and drains out again. At Burntcoat Head in Nova Scotia the water can rise and fall about 16 metres, the height of a five-storey building, in a little over six hours. Here is what it is doing at this moment.

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Why the tides are so big here

The bay is long, funnel-shaped and shallow at its head. The water sloshes in and out of it about every 12 and a half hours, almost exactly in time with the tide coming in from the Atlantic, so each tide gives the next a push, like pushing a child on a swing at just the right moment. The narrowing bay then squeezes all that water higher and higher towards Minas Basin and Chignecto Bay.

How the moon makes tides: an animated explainer →

Staying safe on Fundy's tides

The water can rise faster than you can walk across soft mud. Know when the tide turns before you head out on the sea floor, and leave plenty of margin.
Mudflats can be soft and deep: stay on sand and rock, and never cross a channel that is filling.
Paddle at or near high tide: at low tide the shore can be kilometres of mud from the water. Strong currents run through Minas Channel and around the headlands.
The water is cold all year. Dress for a swim, and file a float plan.