As Randall Miller sees it, there is no place in the world quite like the Stonehammer Geopark. Given that he proposed the idea for this 2,500 sq km park, situated along the coastline of the Bay of Fundy, you might think he’s biased. But as the research curator of geology and paleontology in the Department of Natural Science at the New Brunswick Museum explains it, this is a place with a billion years of stories, many revealed by the powerful Bay of Fundy’s tides.
“You can find significant geological features everywhere, but what you don’t often see is the kind of diversity you encounter at Stonehammer,” says Miller.
“New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, they are made up of pieces of South America and Africa that broke away and attached themselves to North America many years ago. If you look around the Bay, you can see a billion years of geological history that you can trace back to other continents. It’s a very complex story.”
This fascinating story is the reason why Stonehammer was accepted into the Global Geoparks Network in 2010. Though there are 77 members in 25 countries (as of October 2010), Stonehammer was the first, and remains the only, North American geopark. These UNESCO-recognized parks are unique from other parks in that their purpose is to connect people with geology and how it shapes our lives, from where we live to the crops we plant to the energy sources we use. Geoparks also benefit local economies by stimulating the growth of geotourism and related businesses, such as daytrip adventures.
Miller says Stonehammer was a perfect candidate for geopark status because it has fascinated geologists from around the world for almost two hundred years. In fact, it was the site of some of the first geological explorations to take place in Canada, one of which inspired the park’s name.
“There was a group of geologists in 1857 that called themselves the Steinhammer Club – steinhammer being the German word for stonehammer, which is a very important tool for geologists. They set out to explore the complex geology of Saint John and found they didn’t have to go very far. There were Precambrian, Cambrian, Ordovician, Devonian, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian and Triassic outcrops just a short walk from their homes.”
It is these outcroppings along the Bay of Fundy that hold the key to understanding the stories of our world, our cultures and our societies. They are stories of continents forming, of oceans that are long gone, of glaciers shaping the landscapes, and of early life forms in the long evolutionary path to humanity.
“Stonehammer is made up of many different existing parks, each with its own geological story, whether it is the Green Head Group at Dominion Park or the Caledonia Fault at Rockwood Park,” says Miller. In total, there are 60 significant geological and fossil locales, which include more than 10 publicly accessible sites. “What this geopark does is to add a layer of geological interpretation so we can connect and tell these stories.”
Yet, as Miller observes, these are stories that could not be easily told without the constant scouring and erosion of the Bay of Fundy. “Once you go inland, much of the bedrock geology is covered by forests and glacial deposits. We see some of the geology along the rivers and highways, but the erosion and the cliffs along the bay create opportunities to read the geological story. Every tide and every storm brings the potential for new discoveries. That’s the reason why geologists came here since in the 1830s, and it’s the reason why they continue to come here from England and Europe in 2011.”
If you are planning to visit any of the many sites and parks that make up Stonehammer, the best place to start is the geopark’s website, where you’ll find geology maps, fact sheets and suggestions for things to do. There’s one billion years of history here, waiting for you.
Round the Bay
- “Our lives are shaped by geology: where we settle, the landscape, the crops we grow, natural hazards, water resources, climate, what we mine, and the energy we use are all linked to geology.”—Stonehammer Geopark
- “The geological landscape of awe-inspiring rock cliffs, tide-sculpted towers of sandstone, marsh plateaus, and beaches make this one huge natural destination that’s easy to access and enjoy.”—Frommers Top Destinations 2012
- “People travel from far and wide to the Bay of Fundy to see the highest tides in the world and their dramatic product, the Hopewell Rocks. Many of the rock formations have names. Personally, I like the Lovers Arch and the Dinosaur best.”—Solotraveller
