Why does the Bay of Fundy have the world’s greatest tidal range?

The Bay of Fundy experiences the world’s greatest tidal range primarily due to its funnel-like shape and the resulting phenomenon of resonant tides.1

As a funnel-shaped gulf where the depth gradually decreases headward, the bay’s physical configuration causes the incoming tide to be magnified significantly compared to the open ocean. This resonance occurs because the natural period of oscillation of the bay's water matches the period of the incoming tidal cycle, leading to the extreme water level differences observed. Additionally, the narrowness of the bay further channels and intensifies these waters as they move toward the head of the inlet.21

While tidal ranges in the open ocean are typically much smaller, the specific topography of the Bay of Fundy forces a dramatic rise and fall of water, sometimes exceeding 50 feet (16 meters) in areas like the Minas Basin.234