Which river in China is home to the world's largest and most famous tidal bore?

Why the ocean has tides

Chapter 1

The cosmic tug of war

Chapter 2

The Sun enters the dance

Chapter 3

Coastal shapes and local rhythms

Chapter 4

Tides and the web of life

Ch 3 · Coastal shapes and local rhythms

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BETA

nic Drag the Moon around Earth to discover how gravity pulls the ocean tides.

Jul 30

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nic The three distinct rhythms of the tide

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nic Where the ocean stands completely still

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nic How the Bay of Fundy amplifies tides

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nic How tidal bores surf up narrow rivers

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nic Bay of Fundy Tides

Fundy sways to the rhythm of the moonlit sky, And its funnel shape pushes the water high.

Jul 30

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nic Coastlines experience diurnal, semidiurnal, or mixed tides depending on local geography and ocean depth.

Jul 30

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Fun Fact

No-tide zones: The Mediterranean Sea has almost no tides because its narrow opening at Gibraltar blocks the Atlantic's tidal wave.

Jul 30

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nic There are several points in the global ocean where the tide height never changes.

Jul 30

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Quiz

Which location is famous for having the highest tidal range in the world, up to 16 meters?

Jul 30

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Gossip

Would you surf a 9-meter river wave?

Jul 30

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Quiz

If a coastline has two high tides of significantly different heights each day, what is this tide called?

Jul 30

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Quiz

What type of tide features only one high tide and one low tide each day?

Jul 30

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Quiz

What causes a 'tidal bore' to form in certain rivers?

Jul 30

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Quiz

Why does the Mediterranean Sea have very small, almost unnoticeable tides?

Jul 30

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Quiz

What is the term for a point in the ocean where there is virtually no tidal rise or fall?

Jul 30

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Quiz

What physical phenomenon occurs when the natural sloshing of a bay matches the ocean's tidal cycle?