There are two types of tides: oceanic and barometric. We’ll tall you about the former: the oceanic tides.

Every time the tide rises and falls, we see a different landscape. That’s the magic of nature! Each day there are two high tides and two low tides. Between two high tides, there are approximately 12 hours and 25 minutes. And between a high and low tide, there are approximately 6 hours, 12 minutes and 30 seconds. Therefore, each day it occurs at a different time.

What causes this fluctuation in the water? The Sun and the Moon are responsible. There are two types of tides produced: spring tides and neap tides. They’re known for their intensity and they depend on the lunar phase, as well as the sun and moon’s position with respect to Earth. On the equinoxes (March 20th-21st and September 20th-23rd) the spring tides take place, meaning that when the tide ebbs, the beaches and coasts become uncovered; and when the tide rises, the shoreline practically disappears. The opposite happens on the solstices (June 21st-22nd and December 21st-22nd) with the neap tides. 

An interesting place where the rivers flow into are the estuaries, which have one of the richest and most sensitive ecosystems. When the tide rises and falls, there’s a change in salinity and temperature in these areas, so the flora and fauna have had to adapt to adapt to these daily changes. The estuaries are of great importance for several reasons:

1. The rivers pass essential nutrients to the seas for the coasts.
2. They’re the habitat or “home” to several species, resting spot for migratory birds and breeding ground for many animals, which is why they’re often referred to as “marine cradles.”

We’re telling you all this because you have to be informed in order to be able (and know how) to protect them. That’s why we ask you to help conserve the area in a very easy way: throw away your trash in the proper bins and if you see plastic, please pick it up; that way, we’ll create a better world for those that come after.

You know how American Indians knew a horse’s speed and how many men it was carrying based on the horse’s footprint? Well, you can do something similar at the beach: when you go, if the tide has ebbed, take notice of the waves formed in the wet sand. In geology, those waves are called ripples, or sand waves. You can decipher the intensity of the previous tide based on its shape. 

At the following link, you can see the monthly tide chart: Ports of Cantabria