Magnetic Hill
Encyclopedia
The Magnetic Hill is an example of a gravity hill
, a type of optical illusion
created by rising and descending terrain. It is located at the northern edge (In the Magnetic Hill Area
) of the city of Moncton in the Canadian province of New Brunswick
.
The general area is at the base of a ridge named “Lutes Mountain”, which rises several hundred feet above the surrounding Petitcodiac River
valley. In the 19th century, a cart path was built from the city in the south onto the ridge. The path was subsequently expanded during the early 20th century and during the age of the automobile, ca. 1931, it was noticed that at one point near the base of the ridge when driving south, motorists were required to accelerate in order to prevent rolling backward (i.e., what appears to be downhill). The novelty became known as “Magnetic Hill” and was more-or-less an amusing local attraction for residents and visitors to try.
Eventually with the rise in tourism after the Second World War, along with local highway construction which saw a “Mountain Road” bypass built further west from Magnetic Hill, the roughly 1 kilometre segment of gravel road became one of Moncton’s prime tourist attractions (along with the tidal bore
on the Petitcodiac River).
To experience Magnetic Hill today, drivers must pay a fee to drive their cars to the end of the road (which has been preserved). When a car is placed in neutral, it will begin to roll backwards, apparently uphill. Observers will also note that water in the adjacent drainage ditches also seemingly runs “uphill.”
Magnetic Hill is mentioned in the Stompin' Tom Connors
song "C-A-N-A-D-A", also covered by Raffi
on his Bananaphone
album.
46.136319°N 64.889696°W
Gravity hill
A gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill , is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope...
, a type of optical illusion
Optical illusion
An optical illusion is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source...
created by rising and descending terrain. It is located at the northern edge (In the Magnetic Hill Area
Magnetic Hill Area Moncton
The Magnetic Hill area of Moncton is located at the North-Western edge of the city of Moncton in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.In the 1980s, both the federal, provincial and municipal governments invested significant money in a major tourism development for the area surrounding Magnetic...
) of the city of Moncton in the Canadian province of New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
.
The general area is at the base of a ridge named “Lutes Mountain”, which rises several hundred feet above the surrounding Petitcodiac River
Petitcodiac River
The Petitcodiac River is a Canadian river in south-eastern New Brunswick. The river runs about through the province's Westmorland, Albert, and Kings counties, draining a watershed area of about . The region around the river features valleys, ridges, and rolling hills, and is home to a diverse...
valley. In the 19th century, a cart path was built from the city in the south onto the ridge. The path was subsequently expanded during the early 20th century and during the age of the automobile, ca. 1931, it was noticed that at one point near the base of the ridge when driving south, motorists were required to accelerate in order to prevent rolling backward (i.e., what appears to be downhill). The novelty became known as “Magnetic Hill” and was more-or-less an amusing local attraction for residents and visitors to try.
Eventually with the rise in tourism after the Second World War, along with local highway construction which saw a “Mountain Road” bypass built further west from Magnetic Hill, the roughly 1 kilometre segment of gravel road became one of Moncton’s prime tourist attractions (along with the tidal bore
Tidal bore
A tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave of water that travel up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the river or bay's current...
on the Petitcodiac River).
To experience Magnetic Hill today, drivers must pay a fee to drive their cars to the end of the road (which has been preserved). When a car is placed in neutral, it will begin to roll backwards, apparently uphill. Observers will also note that water in the adjacent drainage ditches also seemingly runs “uphill.”
Magnetic Hill is mentioned in the Stompin' Tom Connors
Stompin' Tom Connors
Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors, OC is one of Canada's most prolific and well-known country and folk singers.He lives in Wellington County, Ontario.- Early life :...
song "C-A-N-A-D-A", also covered by Raffi
Raffi (musician)
Raffi Cavoukian, CM, OBC , better known by his stage name Raffi, is a Canadian-Armenian singer-songwriter, author, essayist and lecturer...
on his Bananaphone
Bananaphone
Bananawhoa is a popular children's album released by Raffi in 1994. The title track's lyrics describes the bananaphone. The song uses many puns such as "It's a phone with appeal!" and nonce words like "bananular" and "interactive-odular" as Raffi extols the virtues of his unique telephone. The...
album.
See also
- Magnetic Hill Concert SiteMagnetic Hill Concert SiteMagnetic Hill Concert Site is a live music venue in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It is one of the largest music venues in Canada.Originally built in 1984 for Pope John Paul II to hold a papal mass during his tour of Canada, the site was redesigned in the 1990s as a concert venue...
- Magnetic Hill Area MonctonMagnetic Hill Area MonctonThe Magnetic Hill area of Moncton is located at the North-Western edge of the city of Moncton in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.In the 1980s, both the federal, provincial and municipal governments invested significant money in a major tourism development for the area surrounding Magnetic...
- Magnetic Hill Zoo
- Magic Mountain Water ParkMagic Mountain Water ParkMagic Mountain Water Park , also known as Magic Mountain, is a water park located in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. It is part of the Magnetic Hill tourist site. The park is the largest man made tourist attraction in Atlantic Canada...
- List of magnetic hills
- Gravity hillGravity hillA gravity hill, also known as a magnetic hill , is a place where the layout of the surrounding land produces the optical illusion that a very slight downhill slope appears to be an uphill slope...
External links
- Video of Magnetic Hill: Beginning of video shows vehicles rolling “uphill” on Magnetic Hill.
46.136319°N 64.889696°W