Source: Enfield Weekly Press
EAST HANTS: It’s a sad fact that familiarity breeds indifference, but international recognition of the Bay of Fundy is slowly reestablishing a sense of wonder in locals who may be taking it for granted.“We tend to take the tides for granted a little bit,” said Terri McCulloch, executive director for Bay of Fundy tourism. “We know we have the highest tides in the world. We’re quick to say it, but we don’t always realize the impact. Just watching them is enough to take your breath away.”
McCulloch gives reason for residents of East Hants to be particularly proud, as a large intertidal zone in Cobequid Bay makes for a stunning scene.
“To watch it,” said McCulloch, “it looks like the plug has been pulled on the drain of a giant bathtub.”
Kings-Hants Liberal MP Scott Brison grew up in Cheverie on the Minas Basin, and still experiences the rapture of the tides.
“You almost need to look at it through the eyes of visitors,” said Brison. “I grew up on it, but I still find that I’m constantly looking out on those tides when I’m home.”
The Bay has made it to the final 28 out of 440 worldwide contestants selected in the global election for the New7Wonders of Nature campaign. Although it’s the only sight representing Canada, not everyone is waving the Fundy flag—yet. The Bay is up against other natural wonders like the Galapagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Grand Canyon, and as a result, is garnering a new appreciation in locals, but still has a long way to go.
Along with slowly grabbing the attention of locals, McCulloch is hoping the campaign generate more tourism dollars. McCulloch said attention could give more opportunity for visitors and residents to explore the coastline, without it being overrun.
“We could always use more visitors,” she said. “We’re not running at capacity, and certainly East Hants is not running at 99 per cent occupancy even in peak season.”
High tides could lead to more visitors, but there’s more to the tides than the space between the sea water and the top of the Bay. The Marine biodiversity in the Bay has been compared to the extensive biodiversity in the Amazon Rainforest. The vote my Fundy campaign touts that the tides make a unique home for migratory birds and marine life.
Although the other contenders are better known internationally, McCulloch said Fundy’s tide is natural phenomenon that’s often underplayed.
“Our tides are 10 times higher than the rest of the worlds,” said McCulloch. “North Carolina’s are five feet high—ours are 50 feet. That’s 100 billion tonnes of sea water moving in and out in one tide.”
“That’s like the Grand Canyon filling up and emptying once a day,” she added. “That’s a lot of water.”
This the final phase of a four-phase campaign for the Bay, and Brison is hoping the contest will continue to garner attention to residents along the Bay and the rest of Canadians. Around one billion votes are expected to be tallied, with winners announced Nov. 2011.
“It’s great to get excited,” said Brison, “but it’s more important to rally support to do everything we can to make sure the Bay of Fundy is ultimately selected.”