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Moncton
 

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MONCTON , 90km from Alma, was named after Colonel Robert Monckton [sic], though the Acadians had originally called the place Le Coude ("the elbow"), which at least hinted at its setting on a sharp bend of the Petitcodiac River. Indeed, the river provides Moncton with its most singular attraction, the tidal bore, which sweeps up from the Bay of Fundy, 35km downstream. Otherwise, Moncton is a minor commercial centre and major transport junction surrounded by marshy flatlands. This may sound unpromising, but the downtown area has recently been spruced up and there are now enough good restaurants and hotels to make an overnight stay enjoyable, and the town is a convenient stop on the journey between Fundy National Park and PEI's Confederation Bridge. Moncton's rejuvenation partly reflects the increasing confidence of local Acadians: the town hosts the province's only French-speaking university and is proud of its bilingualism - the result of Acadian ex-deportees settling here in the 1790s.

Moncton's tidal bore is a wave that varies from a few centimetres to a metre in height, depending on weather conditions and the phase of the moon. At low tide you'll be in no doubt as to why the locals called the Petitcodiac the "chocolate river" - but the mud flats disappear after the bore arrives, when the river level rises by up to 8m. Tiny Tidal Bore Park , downtown at Main and King streets, has information plaques on the tide times and a small grandstand so you can watch the phenomenon in comfort. If you are so inclined, you could also visit the Crystal Palace Amusement Park (tel 859-4386), on Paul Street just east of downtown in the suburb of Dieppe, which features everything from an indoor roller coaster to virtual-reality games.


Other useful information for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections):




Canada,
New Brunswick,
Moncton