The Highest Tides in the World Are in Canada's Bay of Fundy

Tides do not rise by the same amount everywhere. NOAA’s National Ocean Service states that the highest tides in the world can be found in Canada’s Bay of Fundy, at Burntcoat Head in Nova Scotia. The bay separates New Brunswick from Nova Scotia. For comparison, NOAA says the highest tides in the United States are near Anchorage, Alaska, with tidal ranges that average around 30 feet. Because many places with big tides are far north, people sometimes assume that tides grow with latitude. NOAA calls that a misconception. The larger ranges are created by the positions and shapes of the continents in the northern hemisphere, which constrict the oceans. In the far south, where the continents are not pressed closely together, tidal ranges are not increased.