Bay of Fundy

Bay of Fundy, large tidal inlet of the North Atlantic Ocean, separating the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, southeastern Canada, and bordering on eastern Maine. The bay is 150 km (90 mi) long and up to 80 km (50 mi) wide. In the east, Fundy divides into two arms, Chignecto Bay on the north and Minas Channel (which leads into Minas Basin) on the south. The funnel effect of these narrowing arms increases the tidal range of the bay, and at times the water in the arms rises by as much as 18 m (60 ft), creating one of the world's highest tides. The tidal surge in Chignecto Bay produces a large crested wave, or bore, ranging to 2 m (6 ft) in height, in the lower Petitcodiac River in New Brunswick. The rising tide in the bay itself creates a “reversing falls” on the lower St. John River, at Saint John, New Brunswick. Passamaquoddy Bay, a western arm of Fundy, forms part of the boundary between New Brunswick and Maine. Although Fundy is very deep, navigation is difficult because of the rapid rise and fall of the tide. Major deepwater harbors are located at Saint John and at Digby and Hantsport, Nova Scotia. Fundy National Park borders the bay in New Brunswick. The bay was discovered by the French explorer Pierre du Gua, Sieur de Monts, in 1604.