Vote Fundy

Have you heard about the New Seven Wonders of the world?? No? It's probably because they haven't been chosen yet. You can be a part of the process by voting and I hope you do.

Taken from the website:

The New7Wonders of Nature campaign highlights and celebrates the beauty of the planet, fostering greater respect for the earth's fragile natural equilibrium.

The New7Wonders Foundation started this contest on July 7th, 2007 with the election of sites from around the world.. It started out with 441 sites from 222 countries and they are now down to the final 28 wondrous things. Some of the sites you may have heard of include The Great Barrier Reef, Uluru (Ayers Rock if you know it by it's old name) and the Galapagos. I have to admit, I didn't know half of the places on the list so if nothing else, check them out and learn something about our world.

The reason I'm posting about this is because the Bay Of Fundy is the only site in Canada that made the final cut. I'm from Saint John New Brunswick and the 'Highest Tides in the World' where something I saw everyday. Why is it worthy of being one of the New7Wonders?

Highest Tides in the World
Bay of Fundy tides are 53 feet (16 metres), five to 10 times higher than any tide in the world. It takes six hours and 13 minutes for the tides to go from high to low and for 100 billion tonnes of seawater to flow in and out of the bay twice daily. More water moves through the Bay of Fundy in one cycle than the combined flow of all the world’s freshwater rivers. The amount of water in one tide cycle would fill and then empty the Grand Canyon.

Ecology
The Bay of Fundy has been compared in marine biodiversity to the Amazon Rainforest. Through ocean currents and its massive tides, it is biologically linked to the rest of the world by fish, bird, and marine mammal migrations.
WhalesThe Bay of Fundy hosts over 12 species of whales during their summer and fall feedings, including half the world’s population of rare and endangered Right whales.

Dinosaurs and Fossils
The Bay of Fundy has the world’s most complete fossil record of the “Coal Age” (300 million years ago). It is home to the world’s oldest reptiles and Canada’s oldest dinosaurs, and the site of one of the greatest extinctions the world has ever known — the Triassic/Jurassic extinction.

Green Tidal Energy
The Bay of Fundy has the potential to become one of the world’s greatest producers of tidal energy. The Bay is 10 times more powerful than any other site in North America and is already generating environmentally-sustainable electricity.

Culture
The area is rich in the culture and history of its original First Nations as well as European settlers who arrived in 1604 — before Canada was a country. Regional culture and history are celebrated at interpretation centres, historic sites, horticultural display gardens, and artisans’ studios.

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I have to admit I learned something by reading this information too. I always thought the tides where the only thing that made the Bay of Fundy so special. (Maybe I should be a tourist in my own home a bit more huh?) So how just how high are the highest tides in the world? Look for yourself:

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These are the Hopewell Rocks outside of Alma New Brunswick. In my opinion this is the most dramatic before and after view of the tides. I've walked on that part of the ocean floor and I've watched as the water rose. It's definitely something to see.

So I ask that you vote for our home town (home country) wonder and get the Bay of Fundy on the global map. And all you other bloggers and facebookers... please spread the world.

VOTE HERE