Rappel at Cape Enrage on the Bay of Fundy to beach where fossils 320 million years old have been found
Cape Enrage, Bay of Fundy - How many places in the world can you rappel down a 43 m (140 ft) cliff down to a rocky beach where fossils 320 million years old have been found? At Cape Enrage you don’t even need experience.
Located just over an hour south of Moncton, this rocky headland marked by a lighthouse, reaches out into Bay of Fundy. The view is spectacular. Look down from the lighthouse and as the tide rise you can see the currents of the water churn, which earned it the ‘Enrage’ name.
The funnel shape of the Bay causes the highest tides in the world (up to 16.3m (53 vertical feet) twice each day), and the massive movement of the water scrapes the rocky shore uncovering and depositing fantastic fossils. You can’t take them with you, but finds are left out to photograph.
On this side of the Bay of Fundy most fossils are of plant life. On the Nova Scotia side you see fossils of reptiles. At one time this eastern part of New Brunswick was actually near the equator. If you want to experience rappelling there are guides and equipment to work with you. It’s also possible to take steps down to the beach (tide dependent.) Another option is a zip-line that runs above the towering cliffs, offering again, what has been called one of Canada’s best views. You can also visit the lighthouse and enjoy a meal in the restaurant. |
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Not only does the Bay of Fundy have the highest tides in the world, its the mating ground of the rare right whale (there are fewer than 350 left in the world today.) |
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Photos by Lucy Izon
Lucy Izon
Canada Cool is produced by award-winning Canadian travel writer & speaker Lucy Izon. Her travel stories & reports have appeared in numerous leading North American publications including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, and Chicken Soup for the Traveler's Soul. Bio page
Canada’s Coolest:
Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email [email protected]. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!
The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives
Here are some of my favorites...
The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.
The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.
The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.
And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...
More from Canada’s Coolest
'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:
- Golf Course Features
- Haunted Hotels
- Hotel Special Services
Send your suggestions to [email protected]
Recent 'Canada's Coolest' topics:
