Hello readers, I hope you are doing great! What is special about Niagara Falls? This is the question I had in my mind before visiting the Falls. I got all my answers when I visited there for the first time. But as many times I went there, I got to know or see something special about the place each time.
In this article, you will read about some special things about Niagara Falls.
Falls Of Niagara River
The beautiful river Niagara has generated three falls: the Canadian Falls (Horseshoe Falls), Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls. All the three falls are famous for their tremendous beauty.
Apart from its beauty, Niagara falls have the world’s highest flow rate. Not only this, one more special fact is that the Canadian Horseshoe Falls’ crest line is around 670 meters (2,200 feet) wide.
The Niagara River is a waterway that connects the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario. Moreover, Niagara Falls has retreated seven miles in 12,500 years, making it one of the world’s fastest-moving waterfalls.
What Is The Age Of Niagara Falls?
The Niagara River, along with the rest of the Great Lakes Basin, is a remnant of the previous Ice Age.
The Niagara Falls are around 12,000 years old. Niagara Falls was roughly 7 miles (11 km) downstream when it developed.
Even now, erosion pushes the falls upstream at nearly a foot every year.
What Is Behind The Names Of The Falls?
Each waterfall is named based on its unique characteristics, such as the American Fall’s location near the US border.
The Horseshoe Falls are called so because of their horseshoe form, but they’re also called the Canadian Falls because they’re largely in Ontario.
Finally, Bridal Falls names so because of its shape, which looks like a bridal veil.
Which Fall Is the Longest?
The length of the Canadian, or Horseshoe, the brink is 2,600 feet; that is 792.4 meters! Compared to the combined length of the other falls, 1060 feet, that is quite an impressive-sized waterfall.
The Horseshoe shape may make this waterfall seem smaller, but it is quite the opposite, in fact. It is not only the longest, but it is also the tallest among the three.
Source Of Power
After the completion of the first hydroelectric project in 1961, Niagara Falls was the greatest hydropower facility in the Western World.
It presently generates roughly 2.4 gigawatts of power for the state of New York in the United States. There are now many hydroelectric facilities in and near Niagara Falls, all of which provide energy for both the United States and Canada.
Classic Maid Of The Mist Boat Ride
The only way to go between the two sides of the Niagara River was by boat until the first bridge was built across the lower Niagara River.
Before 1846, travellers were transported over the Niagara River in rowboats. The Maid of the Mist, a riverboat, made her maiden journey over the Niagara River below Niagara Falls in 1846.
The riverboat Maid of the Mist transported passengers, mail, freight, and baggage. It had adequate room to transport a stagecoach and horses.
Due to the erection of a suspension bridge across the lower Niagara River in 1848, the Maid of the Mist was turned into a tourist boat, which continues to operate today by Hornblower Niagara Cruise.
The Water Flowing Over Niagara Falls Is Spectacular
Each minute, the volume of water that rushes over the Falls makes Niagara Falls distinctive and special. Although there are 500 waterfalls taller than Niagara Falls, its design and size make it appear unique. Over American and Bridal Veil Falls, over 150,000 US gallons of water fall every second. Horseshoe Falls has the maximum amount of water flowing over it, around 600,000 US gallons per second.
The Falls Do Not Freeze!
Regardless of the rumours of frozen Niagara Falls during hard winters, the falls have never been entirely frozen.
Although Niagara Falls seems frozen at times due to ice and snow accumulation, there is always some water running deep below the surface, which is not visible.
Because of an ice blockage upstream on the Niagara River on March 29, 1848, water flow was restricted to a trickle.
Enjoy Watching Falls 24/7!
The most special thing about Niagara Falls as a tourist spot is that you can enjoy the view of the Falls whenever you want to or feel like watching. There is no time limit to watch the esthetic beauty of the falls. It is open day and night for its admirers to cherish its beauty throughout the year.
How Many People Visit Niagara Each Year?
Being one of the most famous tourist places globally, more than 25 million people visit Niagara Falls every year. Irrespective of covid restrictions and possible social distancing, many people still visited the Falls in the last two years. There are a lot of attractions and activities; to know the tips, you must click here.
Some Rarely Known Special Facts About The Falls
- A 63-year-old schoolteacher was the first person to survive a barrel ride over Niagara Falls. In search of fame and wealth, Annie Taylor packed herself – and her cat – inside a barrel and plunged over the falls in 1901.
- Attempting to cross the Falls is unlawful, and anyone who does so will be fined $10,000.
- Its present erosion rate is about 1 foot each year, although it might lower to 1 foot per ten years in the future.
- In 2012, Nick Wallenda became the first person to walk across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. He walked in front of tens of thousands of people and had his journey televised live on television.
- Because the fish at Niagara Falls have adapted to resist the intense pressure of the falls, around 90% of fish that travel down the falls survive. Fish descend down and flow with the waters, which are full of oxygen and nutrients that help fish flourish. The Niagara Falls area is home to a variety of unique fauna. More than 400 acres of Niagara Falls State Park are home to a varied environment and fauna, including wintering gulls and ducks.
Book Your Niagara Falls Trip Now
hope the information will be helpful for you. Now book your tour with ToNiagara to Niagara Falls and enjoy all the adventures. You can either choose a group tour or a private tour. On a group tour, you will be enjoying the adventures and sightseeing with a group of people. Under private tour, you have another option of Ultra-Luxury Private Tour, and you will be travelling in a luxurious Tesla Suv. This is going to be a memorable and exciting trip for you. For information about the adventures click here.
