Niagara Falls is a group of massive waterfalls situated on the Niagara River, straddling the international border separating the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York.
Interesting Info about Niagara Falls
Watercourse Niagara River
Length of brink: 2600 feet
Total Height: 167 ft (52 m)
Volume of Water: 600,000 U.S. gallons per second
Average flow rate 1833 m³/s (64,750 cu ft/s)
Niagara Falls is the largest waterfall (by volume) in North America. The falls actually consists of three separate components - Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Combined, the falls has an average discharge of a mind boggling over 7000 cubic meters per second. Over 90% of the volume is over the Horseshoe Falls.
The Year Niagara froze (1911)
Facts About Niagara Falls
Canadian side
Along the Niagara River, the Niagara River Recreational Trail runs the 35 miles (56 km) from Fort Erie to Fort George, and includes many historical sites from the War of 1812.
How to Reach
By Air
Niagara Falls can be reached by Air and the nearest airports are Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga, New York.
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario.
Hamilton/John C. Munro International Airport in Mount Hope, Ontario.
By Rail
Amtrak Station - Toronto and New York City
By Road
Bus facilities are available from Greyhound Canada to Toronto and Buffalo and also from Coach Canada to Toronto and Buffalo. There are taxis available from Buffalo, New York to Niagara Falls, Ontario and Toronto.
Location: Ontario, Canada & New York, USA
Length of brink: 2600 feet
Total Height: 167 ft (52 m)
Volume of Water: 600,000 U.S. gallons per second
Average flow rate 1833 m³/s (64,750 cu ft/s)
About Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is the largest waterfall (by volume) in North America. The falls actually consists of three separate components - Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Combined, the falls has an average discharge of a mind boggling over 7000 cubic meters per second. Over 90% of the volume is over the Horseshoe Falls.
The Niagara River marks the border between New York, USA and Ontario, Canada. The American and Bridal Veil Falls lies on the American side while the Horseshoe Falls is considered Canadian even though the political boundary splits the falls. We felt the falls was easily experienced from both sides so it didn't really matter which side we were on (though waiting in line at the border control could be a total pain, especially heading into the American side).
The falls contributes a large amount of hydroelectric power to the power grid in the Eastern US and Canada. In fact, there's a statue of Nikola Tesla at the falls, who was the first to successfully turn the energy of falling water from Niagara Falls into electricity that was distributed for private and industrial use. Though hydroelectricity has been controversial in terms of the environment (and especially a bane for waterfalling), there's no denying the critical role it has played in allowing certain cities (and even whole economies) to be built up and thrive. The human intervention has also meant the flow of the Niagara River has been regulated in a way that actually slows down the erosion of the falls and keeps the flow constant nearly year round (except for the coldest of winters when the river and falls are frozen over).
These waterfalls have been a tourist attraction since America's early years (the mid 1800s). So it's not surprising that over the next 150 years the attraction has become heavily commercialized. This meant that we could experience the falls in numerous ways but we did feel that each waterfall "excursion" was like an amusement park ride or carnival ride where we paid to do a particular experience and then move on to the next if we were so inclined. You can read about these excursions here.
We enjoyed the pleasant walks on both the American and Canadian sides of the falls which were free (outside parking fees). They allowed us to take in the scenery at our own leisure. And if that wasn't enough, we were able to see the falls at night as they were floodlit with varying colors until midnight.
No doubt about it. The falls can be experienced and seen in countless ways. See the photos below for a sampling of how we've experienced Niagara Falls.
History of the Niagara River and Whirlpool Rapids
The Niagara River, as is the entire Great Lakes Basin of which the river is an integral part, is a legacy of the last Ice Age. 18,000 years ago southern Ontario was covered by ice sheets 2-3 kilometers thick. As they advanced southward the ice sheets gouged out the basins of the Great Lakes. Then as they melted northward for the last time they released vast quantities of meltwater into these basins. Our water is "fossil water"; less than one percent of it is renewable on an annual basis, the rest leftover from the ice sheets.
The Niagara Peninsula became free of the ice about 12,500 years ago. As the ice retreated northward, its meltwaters began to flow down through what became Lake Erie, the Niagara River and Lake Ontario, down to the St. Lawrence River, and, finally, down to the sea. There were originally 5 spillways from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. Eventually these were reduced to one, the original Niagara Falls, at Queenston-Lewiston. From here the Falls began its steady erosion through the bedrock.
However, about 10,500 years ago, through an interplay of geological effects including alternating retreats and re-advances of the ice, and rebounding of the land when released from the intense pressure of the ice (isostatic rebound), this process was interrupted. The glacial meltwaters were rerouted through northern Ontario, bypassing the southern route. For the next 5,000 years Lake Erie remained only half the size of today, the Niagara River was reduced to about 10% of its current flow, and a much-reduced Falls stalled in the area of the Niagara Glen.
About 5,500 years ago the meltwaters were once again routed through southern Ontario, restoring the river and Falls to their full power. Then the Falls reached the Whirlpool.
It was a brief and violent encounter, a geological moment lasting only weeks, maybe even only days. In this moment the Falls of the youthful Niagara River intersected an old riverbed, one that had been buried and sealed during the last Ice Age. The Falls turned into this buried gorge, tore out the glacial debris that filled it, and scoured the old river bottom clean. It was probably not a falls at all now but a huge, churning rapids. When it was all over it left behind a 90-degree turn in the river we know today as the Whirlpool, and North America's largest series of standing waves we know today as the Whirlpool Rapids.
The Falls then re-established at about the area of the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge upriver to our right, and resumed carving its way through solid rock to its present location.
Straddling the Canadian-United States International Border and both in the Province of Ontario and the State of New York, Niagara Falls attracts some 12 Million tourists to her majestic awesome beauty each year.
The Niagara is a fairly young river, only 12,000 years old!, a microsecond in geological time. The Niagara Escarpment, which was created by erosion is much older. The glaciers pressed down on the land during the last ice age and laid down layers of sediment, then the slow process of erosion of ice and water ate at the surface of the escarpment
The mighty river plunges over a cliff of dolostone and shale. Niagara Falls is the second largest falls on the globe next to Victoria Falls in southern Africa.
One fifth of all the fresh water in the world lies in the four Upper Great Lakes-Michigan, Huron, Superior and Erie. All the outflow empties into the Niagara river and eventually cascades over the falls. At the bottom of the falls, the water travels 15 miles over many gorges until it reaches the fifth Great Lake-Ontario. The land between the lakes does not slope at an even grade, but forms a spectacular drop approximately the same height as a 20 story building and this is known as the "Niagara Escarpment" Two billion years ago it was buried under a blanket of ice.
As the years past, the process of erosion took place, (and still does) five distinct 'gorges' were formed-Lewiston Brange Gorge, Old Narrow Gorge, Upper & Lower Great Gorges and the Whirlpool Narrow Gorge.
Approximately 500 years ago the river encountered an obstacle that caused it to 'split into two channels', thus Goat Island was formed named after John Stedman whose goat herds froze to death in the winter of 1780). This was the original sediment left from a vanished Lake Tonawanda (an Indian name).
On the eastern part of the island, the American Falls took shape, the Horseshoe Falls, is on the western side, where the river angles some 90 degrees.
The water flow on the American side of the falls is much less in strength because of Goat Island, whereas Horseshoe Falls has no obstruction to divert it. It should be noted that a third much narrower falls exists. Over the years these falls have been called at different times; Luna Falls, Iris Falls and is currently named Bridal Veil Falls.
Man has not been able to completely control the flow of the water over the falls, even modern engineers have tried. Much of the water today is fed through underground channels and pipes to nearby hydro electric power stations.
Characteristics
Niagara Falls is divided into the Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls. The Horseshoe Falls drop about 173 feet (53 m), the height of the American Falls varies between 70–100 feet (21–30 m) because of the presence of giant boulders at its base. The larger Horseshoe Falls are about 2,600 feet (790 m) wide, while the American Falls are 1,060 feet (320 m) wide.
The volume of water approaching the falls during peak flow season may sometimes be as much as 202,000 cubic feet (5,700 m3) per second. Since the flow is a direct function of the Lake Erie water elevation, it typically peaks in late spring or early summer. During the summer months, 100,000 cubic feet (2,800 m3) per second of water actually traverses the Falls, some 90% of which goes over the Horseshoe Falls, while the balance is diverted to hydroelectric facilities.
This is accomplished by employing a weir with movable gates upstream from the Horseshoe Falls. The Falls flow is further halved at night, and during the low tourist season in the winter, remains a flat 50,000 cubic feet (1,400 m3) per second. Water diversion is regulated by the 1950 Niagara Treaty and is administered by the International Niagara Board of Control (IJC). Viewpoints on the American shore generally are astride or behind the falls. The falls face directly toward the Canadian shore.
The Year Niagara froze (1911)
Niagara froze totally!! It happened a long time ago in 1911 and as a result, the quality of the photos isn’t amazing, but the photos themselves are.
During a very harsh winter a crust of ice accumulates along the fall creating this amazing natural landscape.
You have to keep in mind that it doesn’t actually freeze solid, but the ice thickness went up to 50 feet (almost 17 meters).
The blanket of ice has been known to spread along the whole Niagara river and people used to cross it until 1912, when there was a tragic accident when the ice broke. Also, I have found no irrefutable evidence that this event took place in 1911.
Facts About Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls were formed as a result of glaciers receding at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes, which together created a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean.
Although the Niagara Waterfalls are not exceptionally high, they are very wide. Their length of brink is 1060 feet while their height is 176 feet. Niagara Falls are one of the most powerful waterfalls in North America.
Niagara Falls are located on the international border that separates the Canadian province of Ontario and the American state of New York.
Niagara Falls includes two major sections which are divided by the Goat Island. These two sections are the Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side and the American Falls on the United States side. One smaller section of the waterfall called the Bridal Veil Falls is also located on the American side and is separated from the main falls by the Luna Island.
One of the oldest and best known tourist attractions at the Niagara Falls is the boat cruise called Maid of the Mist boat cruise, which is named after an ancient Ongiara Indian mythical character.
The Niagara Falls had long been identified as a potential source of power. One of the very first attempts to utilize the Niagara Falls as a source of energy was in 1759. In 1759, Daniel Joncaire built a small canal above the waterfalls to power his sawmill.
Augustus and Peter Porter later purchased this place along with the entire American falls in 1805 from the New York state government. Augustus and Peter Porter enlarged the original canal in order to provide hydraulic to power their gristmill and tannery.
In 1853, the Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Mining Company was chartered, which eventually constructed the canals that were to be used for electricity generation. In the year 1881, under the leadership of Jacob Schoellkopf, power was generated using the Niagara waters. The power was sufficient to illuminate both the Falls as well as the nearby Niagara Falls village.
It is a fact that the original Niagara Falls were near the sites of present-day Queenston, Ontario, and Lewiston, New York. However owing to the erosion of their crest, the waterfalls have retreated several miles southward.
Several people have attempted to conquer the Niagara Falls. In October 1829, Sam Patch, jumped from a high tower into the gorge below the falls and also survived the jump. This incident has continues into a long tradition of daredevils, some of whom successfully conquered the falls, while some even lost their lives in the attempt.
The number of tourists visiting the Niagara Falls in 2008 is expected to total 20 million. In addition to this, the annual rate is expected to top 28 million tourists per year by the year 2009.
Canadian side
The Canadian Horseshoe falls is better viewed from the Canadian side. On the Canadian side, Queen Victoria Park features manicured gardens, platforms offering spectacular views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls, and underground walkways leading into observation rooms which yield the illusion of being within the falling waters. The observation deck of the nearby Skylon Tower offers the highest overhead view of the Falls, and in the opposite direction gives views as far as distant Toronto. Along with the Minolta Tower (formerly the Seagrams Tower, currently the Konica Minolta Tower), it is one of two towers in Canada with a view of the Falls.
Along the Niagara River, the Niagara River Recreational Trail runs the 35 miles (56 km) from Fort Erie to Fort George, and includes many historical sites from the War of 1812.
The Whirlpool Aero Car, built in 1916 from a design by Spanish engineer Leonardo Torres y Quevedo, is a cable car which takes passengers over the whirlpool on the Canadian side. The Journey Behind the Falls - accessible by elevators from the street level entrance - consists of an observation platform and series of tunnels near the bottom of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side.
There are two casinos on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara. The former is situated in the Fallsview Tourist Area, alongside many of the area's hotels, whilst the latter is adjacent to Clifton Hill, on Falls Avenue, a major tourist promenade.
Nearby Attractions
Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort
It is a 2.5 million square foot complex that includes more than 3,000 slot machines and 150 gaming tables, a 368-room five-star hotel, fine-dining restaurants, 50,000 square feet of meeting/conference space, a health spa, a retail facility, and a 1,500-seat theatre.
Skylon Tower
It offers a spectacular view 775 feet (236 meters) above Niagara Falls from its Observation Deck.
MAX Theatre Niagara Falls
It offers the thunderous power of Niagara Falls from a heart-thumping perspective. The IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls features more than six-story high screen and 12,000 watts of floor shaking digital surround sound.
Marineland
Marineland features park rides and marine shows that include beluga whales, killer whales, dolphins and other wildlife, such as deer and bears.
Butterfly Conservatory / Botanical Gardens
The Butterfly Conservatory is part of the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens close to Niagara Falls. It has an indoor, climate-controlled facility that features a network of paths in a tropical rainforest setting where thousands of butterflies breed.
How to Reach
By Air
Niagara Falls can be reached by Air and the nearest airports are Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Cheektowaga, New York.
Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario.
Hamilton/John C. Munro International Airport in Mount Hope, Ontario.
By Rail
Amtrak Station - Toronto and New York City
By Road
Bus facilities are available from Greyhound Canada to Toronto and Buffalo and also from Coach Canada to Toronto and Buffalo. There are taxis available from Buffalo, New York to Niagara Falls, Ontario and Toronto.
Ontario, Canada & New York: Niagara Falls Galleries
View Niagara Falls in a larger map
