After my update on yesterday's post, Geewits asked about the disqualification of Dinosaur National Park in Drumheller Alberta from the New 7 Wonders of Nature. At the time I thought it seemed odd that it was cut for "not meeting contest requirements". I read that it hadn't competed enough in the international voting. Nope, didn't understand that either. But not being a very good investigative journalist, I let it slide by and rejoiced in the re-entry of New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy - who immediately reignited a massive campaign which included twitter, facebook, a blog, numerous ads...
Alberta Tourism Parks and Recreation said "The reason they gave us was that expectations were different from our end than there was on theirs of what was involved in the competition."
[A] spokeswoman for the Swiss-based non-profit organization, told the Calgary Herald from Belgium the Alberta park didn't make the cut because, well, there's not much to do there.
"What happened is that they couldn't fulfill some of the requirements we needed, and it had to do with activities that people could engage in," she said.
-from Calgary Herald June 18, 2009
This sounds a little strange to me - a natural wonder not dependent on man made entertainment, and it is disqualified for lacking things to do. What is there 'to do' at Uluru? Sure you can hike there, and climb the rock - can you still climb the rock? What about those atolls in the middle of the Pacific?
Anyway, the Bay of Fundy is not lacking. It is home to a variety of unique marine species and serves as the summer feeding area for half the world’s population of endangered North Atlantic right whales and 12 other whale species. There are fossils galore, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as as biosphere reserve.
Alberta Tourism Parks and Recreation said "The reason they gave us was that expectations were different from our end than there was on theirs of what was involved in the competition."
[A] spokeswoman for the Swiss-based non-profit organization, told the Calgary Herald from Belgium the Alberta park didn't make the cut because, well, there's not much to do there.
"What happened is that they couldn't fulfill some of the requirements we needed, and it had to do with activities that people could engage in," she said.
-from Calgary Herald June 18, 2009
This sounds a little strange to me - a natural wonder not dependent on man made entertainment, and it is disqualified for lacking things to do. What is there 'to do' at Uluru? Sure you can hike there, and climb the rock - can you still climb the rock? What about those atolls in the middle of the Pacific?
Anyway, the Bay of Fundy is not lacking. It is home to a variety of unique marine species and serves as the summer feeding area for half the world’s population of endangered North Atlantic right whales and 12 other whale species. There are fossils galore, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as as biosphere reserve.
So, there is whale watching, birding, and hanging out on the water in sailboats, canoes, kayaks, or swimming. There are cruises and whale watching tours. There are the fossil cliffs to see. And that amazing tide.
See here for more about the tide and the Bay of Fundy.
I remember going to the bay as a kid, when we lived in Nova Scotia. I'm glad it made it to the wonder list...
ReplyDeleteI liked the Bay of Fnndy, but we made the long, long drive to see the tidal bore and when it came it - nothing. Just a slow almost impreceptible rising of water, and not very high. The guide said sometimes that just happens.
ReplyDeleteGosh I would have thought a natural wonder could just "be". I guess training and planning are needed to win at anything anymore.
ReplyDeleteOh, I really want to go there! We sort of planned a trip to Nova Scotia a couple of years ago and life intervened so we had to cancel. I'm going someday though.
ReplyDeleteWheeeeeee--- tides.....We did go to see the fabulous tides when we lived in the neighbourhood and..meh, I'm not sure they're a world wonder. They come, they go. And I can see the dinosaur park being disqualified because once the discovery has been made it's kind of over. It needs to be an ongoing natural thing-- like falls or hanging gardens or something. I don't think they meant we need to have ferris wheels and wax museums to make it viable.
ReplyDeleteNot for much longer Violet. It is sacred to the Aboriginals so should not be climbed...
ReplyDeleteHappy days
Hmmm. I'm still confused. As much as I love water, I don't see how that's better than dinosaur bones and hoodoos. They are both great, though. And thanks for trying to clear that up.
ReplyDeleteOh wow!! It looks fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteJazz: considering it didn't make the previous round until the 11th hour, it is a wonder it got this far.
ReplyDeleteSAW: yeah, and the tide does rise slowly so to get the whole effect you pretty much have to hang around for 6 hours or more.
Bandobras: I'm still not sure of their criteria for inclusion.
Susan: I was in the Maritimes as a teen and have wanted to go back ever since. I spent years dreaming of moving to NS. Now I don't want to deal with their snow and fog and the resulting eternal bad hair days.
XUP: but aren't there still fossils and bones to be found there? Perhaps they are looking more for uniqueness, and fossils aren't all that unique.
ReplyDeleteDelwyn: good. as it should be.
Geewits: yeah, I'm still confused too by the committee's reasoning, though I understand Drumheller wasn't all that upset. But this is decided by popular vote so anything can happen.
Christine: I haven't seen the tide "rising" but we did come back many hours laters to see how far it had come up. I was mighty thrilled with the whole concept.
I have walked in the Bay of Fundy. I have found wondrous fossils(before you weren't allowed)in the summer and the winter. It is beautiful and deserves to be nominated.
ReplyDeleteI have also walked,climbed,played and fossil hunted at Drumheller. I love it there too but I think it is actually a little too commercial for the New 7 Wonders. Who knows! They are both wonders to behold and beautiful parts of Canada!
I have walked in the Bay of Fundy. I have found wondrous fossils(before you weren't allowed)in the summer and the winter. It is beautiful and deserves to be nominated.
ReplyDeleteI have also walked,climbed,played and fossil hunted at Drumheller. I love it there too but I think it is actually a little too commercial for the New 7 Wonders. Who knows! They are both wonders to behold and beautiful parts of Canada!
Every time you write about Canada, I want to go there! I'd love to see the Atlantic coastline, all the bays, the whales, the history!
ReplyDeleteAh well, dream on!
Lorac: I've only seen pictures of Drumheller, and it looks interesting, but not enough to entice me. I'm glad there is so much excitement in the media over this.
ReplyDeleteGilly: I would love to do a house swap with you!! Of course, I live nowhere near the Atlantic, unless you consider a 20 hour drive closeby! There is so much more history in England - ours is relatively recent.
The whole Maritimes region is on my Must Visit Soon list of places to go...
ReplyDeleteOliag: for me as well, (as is New England). I was only 12 the last time I was down that way.
ReplyDeleteNow I want to visit!
ReplyDeleteHi Sanna, there's an award for you over at my place, please come and get it.
ReplyDeleteScott: well, you'll be much closer when you move to England.
ReplyDeleteIrene: thank you!
Obviously, I have never been there but the photos of the previous blog makes me wish I had.
ReplyDeleteThe more I see of Canada, the more I would love to.
I met the tidal bore in the Bay of Fundy in a rubber raft; my great niece wanted to go and I wouldn't let her go alone. I loved every wet, fraught minute. But, oh my, did it ever take a long time to get the red mud off us and out of our clothes.
ReplyDelete