One of the places where this spectacle occurs is at the head of the Bay of Fundy. The funnel-like shape both increases the height of the tide and decreases the duration of the flood tide so it appears as a much more sudden increase in the water level. These are normally places with a large tidal range where incoming tides are funnelled into a shallow, narrowing river or lake via a broad bay. Tidal bores occur in just a few locations worldwide. Large bores can be particularly dangerous for shipping, but also present opportunities for river surfing.
A tidal bore may take on various forms, ranging from a single breaking wavefront with a roller to a smooth wavefront followed by a train of secondary waves (whelps). Tidal bores takes place twice a day during the flood tide and never during the ebb tide. The word bore derives through Old English from the Old Norse word bara, meaning a wave or swell.Ī tidal bore is indeed a true tidal wave and is not to be confused with a tsunami, which is a large ocean wave traveling primarily on the open ocean. Historical Activities: Travel Back in TimeĪ tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a standing wave of water that travels upstream, against the current of a river or narrow bay.Bay of Fundy Tides: The Highest Tides in the World!.
