The "Reversing Falls" is caused by the tremendous rise and fall of the tides of the Bay of Fundy, which are the highest in the world. The natural southward-facing opening of the Bay of Fundy receives the on rushing ocean tides directly like a funnel. The tidewater is normal when it enters the bay at its widest point. But the farther up the bay it travels the more it changes. It is, in effect, squeezed by the ever-narrowing sides and the constant shallowing of the bottom forcing the water higher up the shores. The low tide running out of the bay collides with the new, incoming high tide, combining forces to make a higher wave coming in.
The combination of wave forces is called resonance.
NOTE: As of October 2006, there are NEW requirements for Earth Caches. For this cache, you will now need to submit a TOTAL of TWO (2) pictures (with your GPS in the picture), to log this cache. You need to indicate "when" these pictures were taken (time) and TOTAL amount of time, between BOTH pictures !!!
The Bay of Fundy tides are a result of the tidal action originating in the Southern Indian Ocean sweeping around the Cape of Good Hope and then northward into the Bay of Fundy. They are also affected by the distance of the moon from the earth at this longitude..
Here in Saint John, the bay tides rise 28 ½ feet. When the tide is low, the St. John River, 450 miles long, empties into the bay.
NOTE: As of October 2006, there are NEW requirements for Earth Caches. For this cache, you will now need to submit a TOTAL of TWO (2) pictures (with your GPS in the picture), to log this cache. You need to indicate "when" these pictures were taken (time) and TOTAL amount of time, between BOTH pictures !!!
Between Fallsview Park and the Pulp Mill, the full flow of the river thunders through a narrow gorge. An underwater ledge, 36 feet below the surface causes the water in the river to tumble downward into a 175-200 foot deep pool. The water then boils in a series of rapids and whirlpools. As the bay tides begin to rise, they slow the course of the river and finally stop the river's flow completely.
This short period of complete calm is called slack tide - the only time that boats are able to safely navigate the Falls.
NOTE: As of October 2006, there are NEW requirements for Earth Caches. For this cache, you will now need to submit a TOTAL of TWO (2) pictures (with your GPS in the picture), to log this cache. You need to indicate "when" these pictures were taken (time) and TOTAL amount of time, between BOTH pictures !!!
Shortly after this slack tide the bay tides become higher than the river level and slowly, at first, the river begins to flow upstream. As the bay tides continue to rise, the reverse flow gradually increases and the rapids begin to form, reaching their peak at high tide. The effect of this reversal is felt upstream as far as Fredericton, more than 80 miles inland. At this point the tidal waters are actually 14 ½ feet higher than the river. After high tide the bay tides begin to fall and the upstream flow of the river gradually lowers until the bay tides fall to the level of the river - once again resulting in another slack tide. The river then resumes its normal course and begins to flow back out of the bay. The bay tides continue to fall below the level of the river until at low tide the rapids are again at their peak, flowing down stream. At this point the tidal waters are 14 ½ feet lower than the river level. The tide rises and falls once about every 12 and a half hours.
NOTE: As of October 2006, there are NEW requirements for Earth Caches. For this cache, you will now need to submit a TOTAL of TWO (2) pictures (with your GPS in the picture), to log this cache. You need to indicate "when" these pictures were taken (time) and TOTAL amount of time, between BOTH pictures !!!
Native legend has it that Big Beaver, kicked out from his home, came here and built a damn across the mouth of the river flooding the countryside. The Natives asked Glooscap (an invisible super-human deity) for help. He arrived in a huge war canoe, and with his club, he smashed Big Beaver's Dam. The pieces went all over the countryside. The largest piece became Partridge Island, at the mouth of the harbour and his war club was "Split Rock", underneath the Reversing Falls Bridge. The Native name for the falls means "The Beaver's Rolling Dam".
As mentioned, there are several different viewing areas.
NOTE: It's not necessary to take your 2 pictures on the same day.
I've included a "HIGH TIDE" video - Please click on "User's Web Page" (at the top of this page), if you wish to view this.
Tide Predictor (tide schedule)
Have fun, learn and enjoy!
NOTE: As of October 2006, there are NEW requirements for Earth Caches. For this cache, you will now need to submit a TOTAL of TWO (2) pictures (with your GPS in the picture), to log this cache. You need to indicate "when" these pictures were taken (time) and TOTAL amount of time, between BOTH pictures !!!