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Published: June 13th 2017
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Geo: 46.0884, -64.7783
Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick
What a fun day at Fundy!
This morning we visited Hopewell Rocks. On our way, Allison pointed out that the Petitcodiac River behind our hotel ebbs and flows with the tides of the Bay of Fundy. The water level was very high; the Bay of Fundy tide was obviously in. When we returned late afternoon, the river was almost empty. The tide was out. Thus the phenomenon of the local tides.
Check out this video – a time lapse of the tidal shifts at Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy.
The Hopewell Rocks, also called the Flowerpot Rocks, are formations caused by tidal erosion. They stand 40-70' tall.
They are located on the shores of the Bay of Fundy. Due to the extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, the base of the formations is covered in water twice a day. Although the tides vary from day to day, the high tide can be as high as 52 feet, giving the area one of the highest average tides in the world. Our visit coincided with low tide … so we could walk on the ocean floor.
Our guide Paul began in the Hopewell Rocks interpretive center and then took us out to a viewing platform.
Among the things we learned:
The rock formations are very similar to those in Morocco.Some 160 billion gallons of water rush in and out twice each day – more than all other rivers in the world combined. It would take Niagara Falls two years to move that much water.The in and out of the tide, the rise and fall and the freeze and thaw cycle all cause erosion to these sandstone formations that have come to be known as "Flowerpots" because of the vegetation on top.
The difference between low tide and high tide is the height of an average five-story building. We hiked down to the tidal floor and explored. The use of the “Whisperers” allowed us to learn from our guide, all the while snapping photos.
We had lunch in Alma at the Tides Restaurant, overlooking the “empty” Bay. Boats in a nearby dock were high and dry.
On the way back, we stopped at the Sawmill Creek Bridge (1905), one of many covered bridges in the area. We did a group photo for the blog.
Other facts Allison shared throughout the day:
Moncton is New Brunswick's biggest city.Moncton is a headquarters city, with 30+ call centers –
many residents are bilingual.New Brunswick's weather is much more continental than maritime. Winters are colder and snowier.Major industries: Fishing: lobster, scallops, king crab; Timber: lumber, paper, pulp; FarmingTonight we dined with Linda and Denny Hohn in the Windjammer Restaurant, a four-diamond restaurant in the hotel. Many elegant selections … I had a Bay of Fundy scallop appetizer, whole lobster and strawberry flambé for dessert. We all loved our meals – quite the elegant event for a basically casual itinerary.
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