Niagara Falls is massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, which is right on the border between Canada and the United States.
The Falls are located 27 km north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 120 km south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.
Niagara Falls is composed of three separate water falls on the Niagara River, the Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and American falls. Niagara Reservation State Park, which surrounds mighty Niagara Falls, is the oldest state park in the United States. The park is made up of numerous islands, as well as the famous Prospect Point area.
The magnificent Great Lakes Garden greets visitors entering the park. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls also is located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island.
The Observation Tower has elevators that take visitors 180 feet down to the base of the tower for a close-up view of the American Falls. While in the park ride the world famous Maid of the Mist Boat and get wet while at the Cave of the Winds attraction. Visitors can also hike, bike and fish
More than six million cubic feet of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow, and almost 4 million cubic feet on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.
From above there appears to be two separate waterfalls, the larger of which is the Horseshoe Falls and is positioned against the end of a gorge filled with water from the Niagara River. The area is surrounded by the hydroelectric plant which makes use of the rivers energy to created power and the two cities buildings.
The features that became Niagara Falls were created by the Wisconsin glaciations, about 10,000 years ago. All were dug by a continental ice sheet that drove through the area like a giant bulldozer, deepening some river channels to make lakes, and damming others with debris.
This was the original sediment left from a vanished Lake Tonawanda. 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.
Multiple explorers beginning early as 1604-the enormous energy of the falls was first harnessed in 1759 when Daniel JonCaire dug a small canal above the American Falls to drive his sawmill.
The sound of the roaring falls was a comfort and music to the local peoples. The falls name comes from the Iroquois, Nee-ah-gah-rah which basically meant ‘Thundering Waters’.
Today the rush of up to 75 percent of the water surges through four giant tunnels to hydroelectric plants miles away from the falls supplying power to nearby cities and communities in Canada and the USA.
For generations, the majestic beauty and humbling power of Niagara Falls State Park has fostered a sense of awe and wonder. Through the years, countless people have enjoyed the sparkling scenery of the falls, making the Niagara Falls vacation spot a favorite for the whole family; also it is a popular honeymoon destination.
The grandeur of the falls, second in size only to Victoria Falls in southern Africa, has long been an inspiration to world travelers, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, film producers, and conservationists as well as a wide range of acrobats, daredevils, and assorted publicity seekers.