Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York. They form the southern end of the Niagara Gorge.
From largest to smallest, the three waterfalls are the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The Horseshoe Falls lie entirely on the Canadian side and the American Falls entirely on the American side, separated by Goat Island. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also on the American side, separated from the other waterfalls by Luna Island. The international boundary line was originally drawn through Horseshoe Falls in 1819, but the boundary has long been in dispute due to natural erosion and construction.
Located on the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world that has a vertical drop of more than 165 feet (50 m). Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by vertical height and flow rate. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York, and 75 miles (121 km) south-southeast of Toronto, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.
Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost four million cubic feet (110,000 m3) on average.
The Niagara Falls are famed both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Balancing recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.
peak visitor traffic occurs in the summertime, when Niagara Falls are both a daytime and evening attraction. From the Canadian side, floodlights illuminate both sides of the falls for several hours after dark (until midnight). The number of visitors in 2007 was expected to total 20 million, and by 2009 the annual rate was expected to top 28 million tourists.
The oldest and best known tourist attraction at Niagara Falls is the Maid of the Mist boat cruise, named for an ancient Ongiara Indian mythical character, which has carried passengers into the rapids immediately below the falls since 1846. Cruise boats operate from boat docks on both sides of the falls.

Niagara Falls Facts

• The Niagara Falls are located on the border of Ontario, Canada and New York, USA.
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• The Niagara Falls are made up of 3 waterfalls, the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls.
• The Horseshoe Falls are the largest and the Bridal Veil Falls the smallest.
• The 3 waterfalls combine to produce the highest flow rate of any waterfall on earth.
• The largest vertical drop is over 165 feet (50 metres).
• The Niagara Falls were created by glacier activity around 10000 years ago.
• The Niagara Falls are a source of hydropower, producing large amounts of electricity.
• Hydroelectric stations in the area divert less water during the summer when tourist numbers are high, ensuring a spectacular flow of water for visitors.
• The Niagara River drains water from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario.
• At the current rate of erosion, scientists believe that the Niagara Falls will be gone in around 50000 years, luckily you still have time to see them!
• It is illegal (and not very smart) to go over the Niagara Falls.
• A number of people have tried it anyway, some survived, some were injured and some were killed.
• The first tightrope walker to cross the Niagara Falls did so in 1859.
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• In 2012 Nik Wallenda became the first person to cross the Niagara Falls by tightrope in 116 years. He did so after receiving permission from both the Canadian and United States governments, although he was required to carry his passport and present it on entry to the Canadian side of the falls.
• The Niagara Falls have long been a popular tourist destination, boosted by a number of movies featuring the falls and even a daring performance by famous Illusionist David Copperfield in 1990.
• Goat Island sits in the middle of the Niagara Falls, between Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.
• A monument dedicated to Serbian-American inventor Nikola Tesla sits on Goat Island.
• The Niagara Falls are visited by around 30 million people every year.
• The Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States (1885).