Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world, only the Victoria Falls in Africa are larger. The Niagara Falls, on the Niagara River, are actually three separate waterfalls. The American Falls are between Luna Island and Prospect Point, the Bridal Veil Falls between Luna Island and Goat Island and the Horseshoe Falls (the Canadian Falls) are between Goat Island and Table Rock. Goat Island split the river into two channels which in turn created two falls, with Luna Island causing a narrow division between the American and Bridal Veil Falls. Together the two cascades are 1060 feet across the brink and 176 feet high, although the vertical fall is only about 70 feet due to the many rocks that have broken off over the years.
The spectacular Horseshoe Falls are 2600 feet along the brink and 167 feet in height. Before civilization came to the Niagara region the Falls must have been even more magnificent than they are today, because now there are power plants on either side of the Niagara River. The Adam Beck Hydroelectric Power Stations on the Canadian shore and the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant on the American side generates about 4.4 Gigawatts of power, in fact the Niagara power stations supply a quarter of the electricity used in Ontario and New York State. The usual flow of water over the Horseshoe Falls is around 100,000 cubic feet per second, but at night the water is diverted into the hydro tunnels and the flow is cut to 50,000 cubic feet per second. Although the control by the Ontario Hydro and New York State Power Authority is necessary to provide this energy, the manipulation of the Falls could be compared to taming wild and free horses for domestic use. The twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Canada and Niagara Falls, New York. in the United States cover the land on both sides of the cascading water, and around 12 million people come to the Niagara region each year.
For over 10,000 years the aboriginals were the only people who knew Niagara Falls existed, then in 1604, some sources say, Samuel de Champlain discovered the Falls while exploring the wilds of Canada. Then Father Louis Hennepin, a Catholic priest, missionary and explorer, described the spectacle in 1679 in his journals. 12,500 years ago, after the ice from the Last Ice Age receded to the north and the Great Lakes were formed, the Niagara River began to flow northward from Lake Erie, through the Niagara Escarpment, to Lake Ontario. The river is 35 miles long and the total elevation drop is 326 feet. Originally Niagara Falls were near where Queenston, Ontario is now located and was only about 35 feet high but due to erosion of 5 feet each year, the Falls moved 7 miles upstream. Today, because of the water control the amount of erosion has been reduced to about 12 inches every 10 years. The Niagara Gorge below the Falls was formed when the river broke through a glacial blockage to an ancient gorge (St. David's Gorge) and the resulting convergence formed the famous Whirlpool Rapids, where waves can reach 20 to 30 feet high.
Visitors to the Niagara Region obviously come to see Niagara Falls, but there is so much more to see and do. Take a ride on the Maid of the Mist to get a close-up view of the Falls, or venture behind the Horseshoe Falls to see them from a different angle. There are the Niagara Park Botanical Gardens, great restaurants to savor and excellent live theatre. The Niagara World Wine Tours are the best way to visit the local vineyards and taste the wines of the area. Shopping in nearby Niagara-on-the-Lake is a fun experience, the town has an old world charm. The many landmarks and monuments are an easy way to enjoy history - Fort George, McFarland House and the Niagara Historical Society and Museum to name a few. To wind up the day a visit to the Niagara Falls illuminated with continuously changing lights is a delightful, romantic or fun sight depending on your mood. The illuminations were started in 1925 and have been fascinating visitors since then, regardless of age, race or nationality.
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American Falls Niagara River New York State The American Falls are located in the State of New York in the USA where they crash into the Niagara River which is beautiful from the Canadian side as the sunlight reflects off the buildings. The view of the American Falls, located in the State of New York in the USA, is beautiful from the... |
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Niagara Falls Dusk Illumination Scenery Ontario Canada As dusk settles in around Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, the illumination of the Horseshoe Falls is breathtaking as the scenery shows off its variety of colors. As the hours of dusk move in over Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, the scenery of the Horseshoe... |
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Red Winged Blackbird Picture Niagara Falls River Ontario Overlooking the Niagara River in Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada, a male species of the Red-winged Blackbird rests on a bare tree. The black plumage and red shoulder with the yellow bar on the wing of a Red-winged Blackbird, is a... |
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Niagara Parks Floral Clock Blossoming Colors Queenston Ontario The Niagara Parks Floral Clock in Queenston, Ontario in Canada comes to life in an array of colors as the blossoming flowers enjoy the spring time weather. As the massive hands on the Niagara Parks Floral Clock in Queenston, Ontario keep the precise time,... |
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Niagara River Whirlpool Aero Car Ontario Canada A ride in the Whirlpool Aero Car in Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada is fascinating as you cross over the ferocious rapids along the Niagara River. Along the Niagara River Parkway, 3.2 miles north of Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, the Spanish... |
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Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant Niagara Falls An interesting view point of the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant along the Niagara River in the State of New York, USA, near the popular tourist attraction - Niagara Falls. At the Robert Moses generating station, there are 13 generators with an output of 2,275,000... |
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Horseshoe Falls Colorful Nightly Illumination Show Niagara Falls The Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario comes to life in an array of colorful hues during the nightly illumination show. Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada is a magical vacation getaway for families and couples especially... |
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American Falls Nightly Illumination New York State USA Located in the State of New York in the USA, the American Falls and the Rainbow Bridge show off their beauty during the nightly illumination display. Standing on the Canadian side of the Niagara River in Ontario, Canada, visitors can view the... |
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Horseshoe Falls Dusk Picture Niagara Falls Ontario Canada At dusk, the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada appear blue in color as the falls become illuminated for the nightly show. When dusk begins to settle in over Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, the illumination of the... |
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Niagara Parkway River Scenery Niagara Falls Ontario From the Niagara Parkway in Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, the scenery of the Niagara River is beautiful as the water swiftly flows before reaching the Horseshoe Falls. The Niagara River runs for approximately 35 miles and the scenery from the Niagara Parkway in... |
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Niagara Parkway Sunset Niagara Falls City Ontario At sunset, people stroll along the Niagara Parkway in the City of Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada which runs along side the Niagara River. The Niagara Parkway in the city of Niagara Falls, Ontario is a beautiful place to walk during the... |
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Colorful Tulips Niagara On The Lake Ontario Canada Hundreds of colorful tulips begin to open in early Spring and line the streets in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada. During the spring season, the streets in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada come to... |
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Niagara On The Lake Spring Flowers Ontario Canada Outside the Prince of Wales Hotel in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada, beautiful spring flowers and trees show off their vibrant colors. The exterior of the historic Prince of Wales Hotel in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario,... |
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Colorful Spring Floral Clock Niagara Parks Queenston Ontario During the spring, a colorful arrangement of flowers bloom on the Niagara Parks Floral Clock in the town of Queenston in Ontario, Canada. The Niagara Parks Floral Clock in Queenston, Ontario has become an important tourist attraction... |
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Historic McFarland House Gardens Niagara On The Lake Ontario The historic McFarland House in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada is set back from the herb gardens. The historic McFarland House, built in the 1800's, is one of the oldest buildings in the Niagara... |
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Niagara On The Lake Town Shops Ontario Canada Spring trees bloom along the street in the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada where tourists can browse the unique shops housed in historic buildings. Green wooden shutters decorate the historic buildings along the streets in the town of... |
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Niagara Falls Scenery Ontario Niagara Falls, Ontario can be appreciated from the many different observation points where the scenery is stunning. Niagara Falls, Ontario is one of the most spectacular sights on the face of the Earth, and can be... |
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Niagara Horseshoe Falls Ontario Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada attracts many tourists annually but not all days are as picturesque as this one with the rainbow over the Horseshoe Falls. The spray from the raging waters at the base of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, Ontario in... |
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Niagara Falls Travel Niagara Falls is a very popular travel destination in Ontario, Canada. Thousands of tourists travel to Niagara Falls, Ontario in Canada annually to see the beauty of the... |
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Boat Tours Niagara Falls Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada offers boat tours to visitors who like to shower under the waterfalls. The Maid of the Mist is a boat providing daily tours that ventures close to the American and... |
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