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3. Where is the highest tide?

**Where is the highest tide?**  The highest tide in the world is in **Canada**. Hopewell Rocks, NB, in the Bay of Fundy*The highest tides in the world can be found in Canada's Bay of Fundy at Burntcoat Head in Nova Scotia. Image credit: Shawn M. Kent*.  The highest tides in the world can be found in Canada at the Bay of Fundy, which separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. The highest tides in the United States can be found near Anchorage, Alaska, with tidal ranges that average around 30 feet. Tidal highs and lows depend on a lot of different factors. The shape and geometry of a coastline play a major role, as do the locations of the Sun and Moon. Storm systems at sea and on land also shift large quantities of water around and affect the tides. Detailed forecasts are available for high and low tides in all sea ports, but are specific to local conditions. That many of the areas of the world with high ranges of  tides are in the areas of Alaska, Canada, and northern Europe has created a  misconception that the range of tide increases with increasing latitude (as one moves farther from the equator and closer to the poles). This is incorrect. Increased tidal ranges in these areas are created by the  positions and configurations of the continents in the northern hemisphere. In the higher latitudes of the northern  hemisphere, the continents of North America, Europe, and Asia are pressed closer together. This “constriction” of the oceans creates the effect of a higher range of tides. In the higher latitudes of the southern hemisphere, in the southern tips of South America, southern Africa, Australia,  and Antarctica, tidal ranges are not increased. In these areas the continents are not pressed closely together, there is  not a “constriction” of the oceans, and the tidal ranges are not increased.
 **Did you know?** *Of the top 50 locations in the world with the largest tidal range (average difference between high and low tide), only two locations are within the U.S.:* *Sunrise, Turnagain Arm, Alaska: 30.3 feet*
                        
                        *Anchorage, Knik Arm, Alaska: 26.2 feet* *On the U.S. East Coast, the largest tidal range occurs in Maine. The areas near Eastport and Cobscook Bay, Maine, experience tidal ranges of about 20 feet. Many areas north of Cape Cod have tidal ranges of 8-15 feet. South of Cape Cod to the Florida Keys, the normal tidal range is between 5-8 feet*.  More **Information** Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services Tides and Water Levels Education   Get **Social** Social
  **Last updated:** 01/18/24 **Author:** NOAA How to cite this article Contact Us


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