Hopewell Rocks

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Out of view, a staircase affords access so that visitors can hike down from the cliffs into the bay during low tide.

The Hopewell Rocks are rock formations caused by tidal erosion in The Rocks Provincial Park in New Brunswick.

They are located on the shores of the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Cape, New Brunswick. Due to the extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, the formations are covered in water twice a day. However, it it is possible to view the formations from ground level at low tide^[1].

The formations consist of dark sedimentary conglomerate and sandstone rock. The large volume of water flowing into and out of the Bay of Fundy modifies the landscape surrounding it. Over centuries following the retreat of the last glaciers from the region after the previous ice age, the water has been eroding the base of the rock formations that were not removed as sediment to other parts of the Bay. As sea level rises, the tide and wave action work their way up the base of the rock formations giving them the sculped form. The spring and neap tides show the greatest variability where the tidal range is maximal and minimal. The vast sediment planes in the basin in Fundy support a variety of biological productivity. Various shore birds are often seen flocking to nest and feed in the area. Tourism aside, the phenomenon is a must see for anyone in the Moncton area. Visitors are advised to stay for a full tidal cycle to a full appreciation of the formation and the tidal range.