Which river has the Reversing Falls at Saint John, New Brunswick?

The Saint John River has the Reversing Falls at Saint John, New Brunswick. The falls are actually tidal rapids where the river passes through a narrow gorge before entering the Bay of Fundy.

The name describes a striking change in the rapids’ direction. The Bay of Fundy has exceptionally large tides, and incoming water can push against the Saint John River’s normal downstream flow. At high tide, the current appears to reverse; at low tide, the river again runs toward the bay. There is also a brief slack-water interval between the two movements.

The feature is not a conventional waterfall plunging over a cliff. Underwater ledges and the confined gorge churn the water into rapids and whirlpools. During the spring freshet, when river discharge is especially strong, the downstream current can overpower or reduce the apparent reversal.

The gorge has also been important to transportation and industry. A railway bridge was built across it in 1885, and ships traditionally wait for suitable tidal conditions to navigate the hazardous passage. The Kennebecasis, Restigouche and Miramichi are separate New Brunswick rivers, not the watercourse containing the Reversing Falls.