As reported by the Canadian broadcaster CBC, a giant shark was spotted in Bedford Basin on the Atlantic coast of Canada. "I’ve never seen anything like it," said local resident John Calder. On his way home from work, he noticed a large group of people on the shore and decided to stop. "I got out of the car — and suddenly saw two huge shark fins sticking out of the water," the man recalls. His wife and daughter also came to see the unusual guest. According to Calder's wife, Lisa McCloskey, the shark swam very close to the people. "It almost rolled on its side, so we could see it completely. It was magical," the woman said. ## The Second Largest Fish in the World Shark researcher Neil Hammerschlag confirmed to CBC that the shark that swam into the harbor was indeed a basking shark (*basking shark*). In terms of size, it is second only to the whale shark among modern fish. Basking sharks can reach about ten meters in length; however, despite their intimidating size, they pose virtually no danger to humans. "Basking sharks are not dangerous to people. They feed on small plankton," Hammerschlag explained. These sharks often stay near the surface of the water. That’s why they are called *basking sharks* in English — the name can be roughly translated as "sharks that bask in the sun." ## Why It Came to the Harbor Researchers cannot say for certain what caused the enormous fish to enter Halifax Harbor. According to Hammerschlag, the shark might have been feeling unwell or lost its orientation. Typically, members of this species stay in open water in areas rich in plankton. "We will never know for sure," the researcher noted. View this post on Instagram Post by Bedford Basin Yacht Club (@boatingbbyc)
