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The Bay of Fundy has the hightest tides in the world, ranging from 3.5 metres at their lowest, to 16 metres and more.

The premiers of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia made a final push Tuesday for people to vote for the Bay of Fundy in an effort to have it declared one of the top natural attractions in the world.

The bay is one of the contenders in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign. Voting ends Friday.

"This has been a tremendous opportunity for us to raise the level of understanding of what the Bay of Fundy is all about, and promote it to not only our region but the rest of Canada and the world," New Brunswick Premier David Alward told a news conference in Fredericton.

The Bay of Fundy is Canada's only finalist in the contest. The 270-kilometre-long bay features the world's highest tides.

More than 100 billion tonnes of seawater flow in and out of the bay during each tide cycle, resulting in dramatic changes along the shoreline.

There are 28 finalists in all, including the Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, the Grand Canyon and the Great Barrier Reef.

There were initially more than 440 entries in the competition.

Mr. Alward said even if the bay isn't designated as one of the world's top natural attractions, more people know about the area as a result of all the promotion surrounding the contest.

"Between the governments of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Canada there has been approximately $700,000 invested," Mr. Alward said. "We've seen more than $7 million worth of advertisement come back, let alone the direct impact of having visitors to our region.

"We believe that this will give people a great reason to add the Bay of Fundy to their bucket list of places they want to visit around the world."

In Halifax, Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter also held a news conference extolling the virtues of the Bay of Fundy, during which he recalled a recent experience tidal bore rafting.

"It was my first time and it really was a thrill I won't soon forget, partly because I still haven't got the mud out of my clothes, but also because it is just so remarkable to have that kind of power in your own backyard," Mr. Dexter said.



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