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Requirements for claiming this Earthcache: (message me your answers, do not include them in your “Found It” post.
Task 1: From your observations, what is the color of the water, and based upon the lesson, why do you think the water is this color?
Task 2: Look as closely as you can at the waters in the Bay. Based on Figure 2, what level of Turbidity would you estimate is evident? Please also included the date, time and whether it is low tide, high tide or in between? (You can use the Related Website for tides)
Task 3: Based upon Figure 3, what do you think the approximate high tides are at your location?
Please feel free to include pictures of yourself with the Bay behind you in your log.
You DO NOT need to wait for confirmation from me to log your find. Logs not meeting the requirements will be deleted
The Bay of Fundy (French: Baie de Fundy) is a bay located on the Atlantic coast of North America, on the northeast end of the Gulf of Maine between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, with a small portion touching the U.S. state of Maine. The Bay of Fundy is known for its high tidal range and the bay is contested as having the highest vertical tidal range in the world with Ungava Bay in northern Quebec. The name "Fundy" is thought to date back to the 16th century when the Portuguese referred to the bay as "Rio Fundo" or "deep river".
The Bay of Fundy was formed through a combination of continental drift, tectonic activity, and erosion over millions of years. Initially, the separation of North America and Africa created a rift valley that would eventually become the bay. Further erosion from rivers and glaciers, along with the unique shape of the bay, contributed to the formation of its distinctive features and extreme tides.
(Figure 1)
Continental Drift and Tectonic Activity:
Approximately 200 million years ago, during the early Jurassic period, the supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart. The separation of the North American and African plates created the Atlantic Ocean and left behind a valley that would eventually become the Bay of Fundy.
Rift Valley Formation:
As the continents drifted apart, a rift valley formed. This valley, shaped by fault lines like the Cobequid–Chedabucto fault system, experienced volcanic activity with magma eruptions that left behind basaltic lava flows and unique rock formations.
Erosion and Sedimentation:.
Over millions of years, rivers and glaciers eroded the surrounding land, carrying sediments into the rift valley. Thick deposits of sandstone and shale were formed, particularly visible in the Minas Basin, as a result of this process.
Due to the sediments in the Bay, the color of the water changes. The clarity of the water is called Turbidity. Here is a scale showing varying levels of Turbidity. (Figure 2)
Glacial Influence:
During the last ice age, glaciers played a significant role in shaping the Bay of Fundy. Glacial erosion created the flat bedrock floor, and glacial deposits are still found in areas like Minas Channel and Chignecto Bay.
Funnel Shape and Tides:
The unique V-shape of the Bay of Fundy, tapering from its mouth to its head, is crucial for its extreme tides. The shape compresses the incoming tidal waters, leading to the exceptionally high tides that the bay is known for, according to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. This also is the reason for the many Tidal Bores that take place in many of the Bay-connected rivers and rivulets throughout the area.
(Figure 3)
(Information collected from Google, Kings Bay Restoration Project Turbidity scale, and https://www.bayoffundy.com/articles/geological-formation/)