Where is the largest tide?
According to the Canadian Hydrographic Service, the largest tidal ranges on the planet occur on Canada's coast: Minas Basin, at the head of the Bay of Fundy, where you can see a range of about 16 metres (53 feet), and Leaf Basin, in Ungava Bay, in northern Quebec. Sixteen metres is roughly the height of a five-storey building.
NOAA places the record at Burntcoat Head, in Nova Scotia, on the shore of Minas Basin. There, according to the park that measures it, mean high water is about 14.5 metres and the extreme range reaches about 16.3 metres.
Why are the tides so big there?
Because of the shape of the bay and a coincidence of timing. The Bay of Fundy narrows like a funnel, and the water inside has its own natural back-and-forth: it takes about 13 hours to slosh from the mouth to the head of the bay and back, according to the Canadian Hydrographic Service.
The Atlantic tide pushes it every 12 hours and 25 minutes, almost in step. It is like pushing a swing at just the right moment: each push adds up and the swing grows huge. This is called resonance.
And in Europe?
The bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, in Normandy, has a range of up to 15 metres between low and high water, according to its tourist office, and at the biggest spring tides the sea withdraws about 15 kilometres.
People say the tide there comes in «as fast as a galloping horse». That is an exaggeration. According to Normandy's official tourism board, the water advances at about 6 km/h (under 4 mph): fast for someone walking on sand, but far from a galloping horse. Even so, never walk out into the bay without a guide and without checking the tide times.
Can I see the tide at a port near me?
Yes. Each port page on Tides Pro gives the day's range between high and low water. Compare ports in the list of ports: on the same day, the range can change from a few centimetres to several metres depending on the coast.
Where is the largest tide in the world?
In Canada: in Minas Basin, at the head of the Bay of Fundy, and in Leaf Basin, in Ungava Bay, with a range of about 16 metres between low and high water.
Why does the Bay of Fundy have such big tides?
The water in the bay takes about 13 hours to slosh back and forth, almost the same as the Atlantic tide period of 12 hours and 25 minutes, so each tide reinforces the next. This is resonance.
How fast does the tide come in at Mont-Saint-Michel?
According to Normandy's official tourism board, at about 6 km/h: fast for someone walking on sand, but nothing like a galloping horse.
Sources: Canadian Hydrographic Service — Frequently asked questions · NOAA Ocean Service — Where is the highest tide? · Burntcoat Head Park — Tides · Mont Saint-Michel Normandie tourist office — Spring tides and tidal bore · Normandie Tourisme — The tides of the Mont-Saint-Michel