Massive Tides Along the Bay of Fundy, Lubec ME [Passamaquoddy Bay, Bay of Fundy]

Tide Coming In

Tide Going Out

Our Beach at High Tide

Depending on the time of day, our gravel beach here in Lubec can be a thin sliver of gravel, or a wide expanse of gravel, rocks and seaweed.  The reason?  At low tide, the water level goes down by 18-20 feet, sucking water away from the shoreline.

These massive tides are typical of the Bay of Fundy.  The unique funnel shape of the Bay, as well as the Bay’s orientation and northern latitude contribute to this phenomenon.  Lubec is at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, where the Bay is very wide.  At the head of the Bay, where it is quite narrow, the tides can go over 50 feet.

Interestingly, in the 1930’s President Franklin Roosevelt, who had grown up visiting this Bay every summer, proposed a Quoddy Tidal Power Project, to harness the power of these tremendous tides.  Though that project did not come to fruition, scientists today are experimenting with placing devices on the bottom to generate electricity.

Our Beach at Low Tide - Can You See Russ and Tiki?