Even the Waves

Living in Alaska, anchored along the northern edge of the Lynn Canal, the deepest fjord in North America, I am learning to notice the tides.

They lap at our shorelines; but, they also shape everything we do here.

Take today, for example:

Low tide: 1:43am at 4.6 feet

High tide: 7:29am at 12.8 feet

Low tide: 1:51pm at 2.4 feet

High tide: 8:34pm at 14.1 feet

(Next low: 2:52am at 4.1 feet)

That is four distinct tides in a 24-hour period, rising and falling dramatically! And a swing of nearly 12 feet between low and high is not unusual here.

In fact, just about a week ago we had a low tide of minus 4.4' and a high tide over 19'. That kind of tidal swing is quite typical for parts of Southeast Alaska, especially during new and full moons when the spring tides occur.

According to my online research, when the moon and sun align (during new or full moons), their combined gravitational pull causes extreme low and high tides; this is called a spring tide, not because of the season, but because the tide “springs” higher and lower than normal.

Narrow fjords such as the Lynn Canal intensify this effect due to the way water gets funneled and pushed.

These tides are driven by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun certainly, but their strength and timing are also shaped by the geography of our long, narrow fjord, the many inlets, peninsulas and the Pacific Ocean beyond.

The tides determine when boats launch, when kids (and adults) play on the beach, when eagles fish, and when bears forage. They even determine when some of my friends can actually walk to or from their cabins. And for those of us who pause long enough to notice, they are a daily reminder of the balance and power built into nature itself.

"You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them." Psalm 89:9 ESV

Fishermen, boaters, beachcombers, and wildlife all move in sync with this watery heartbeat. And if you live here long enough, you do too.

The tides remind me: even the waters obey.

by Jeanette Stark - Tuesday, June 3, 2025