(WONDERS) Facts About Niagara Falls

b.a#8

Niagara Falls 

Collectively they are called "Niagara Falls"

 Categorized by these three names:

     American Falls  (between Prospect Point and Luna Island) far left

 Bridal Veil Falls (between Luna Island and Goat Island) mid left

  

  Canadian Falls (between Goat Island and Table Rock) right

 

 

American Falls & Bridal Veil Falls

 

 Length of brink:  1060 feet /323.08 meters

Height:  176 feet / 53.6 meters (due to rocks at the base actual fall is 70 feet/ 21.3 meters)

Volume of water: 150,000 U.S. Gallons / 567,811 Liters per second

Actual amount varies, there are two hydroelectric plants which draw water into their reservoirs prior to the Falls. Their intake greatly affects the volume of water flowing over the falls.

The amount of water being siphoned away depends on  two variables. The time of year, and the time of the day.  Flow is greatest in the daytime during peak tourist season (June, July, and August). In the event of an emergency  the flow can be somewhat reduced  by the hydroelectric companies increasing their intake.

The Bridal Veil Falls is named for its appearance. It is located next to the American falls, separated by a small piece of land called Luna Island.

 

Canadian "Horseshoe" Falls

 

Length of brink: 2600 feet / 792.4 meters

Height: 167 feet / 50.9 meters

Volume of water: 600,000 U.S. gallons / 2,271,247 liters per second

Interesting fact: According to the U.S.G.S. (United States Geological Survey) of Niagara Falls, it appears that almost 1/3 of the Canadian Falls lies within US Territory.

 

Do the Falls Freeze over in the Winter?

Yes and No...... We'll try to explain

The tremendous volume of water never stops flowing,  However, the falling water and mist create ice formations along the banks of the falls and river. This can result in mounds of ice as thick as fifty feet. If the winter is cold for long enough, the ice will completely stretch across the river and form what is known as the "ice bridge".  This ice bridge can extend for several miles down river until it reaches the area known as the lower rapids. 

Until 1912,visitors were allowed to actually walk out on the ice bridge and view the Falls from below. February 24th of 1888 the local newspaper reported that at least 20,000 people watched or tobogganed on the ice. Shanties selling liquor, photographs and curiosities abounded. On February 4th 1912 the ice bridge broke up and three tourists lives were lost.

There can also be a great deal of  "mini-icebergs" which flow down the Niagara River from frozen Lake Erie. The flow of ice has been reduced considerably by the yearly installation of the "ice-boom" on Lake Erie. The ice-boom is a long floating chain (2miles- 3.2 KM) of steel floats strung across the Niagara River from Buffalo New York to Fort Erie Ontario. It is set in place during the month of December and  removed during the month of March or April. It is maintained by the New York State Power Authority. The ice boom helps prevent the ice from clogging the river and most importantly the hydroelectric companies water intakes.

Spring Ice flowing underneath the North Grand Island Bridge

HOWEVER.... The flow of water was stopped completely over both falls on March 29th 1848 due to an ice jam in the upper river for several hours. This is the only known time to have occurred. The Falls did not actually freeze over, but the flow was stopped to the point where people actually walked out and recovered artifacts from the riverbed!

The "Ice Bridge" underneath the Rainbow Bridge. 1997

Interesting facts about Niagara Falls

The flow over the American Falls was stopped completely for several months in 1969. The idea was to determine the feasibility of removing the large amount of loose rock from the base of the falls to enhance it's appearance. In the end the final decision was that the expense would be too great

 

The word "Niagara" is derived from the Iroquois Indian word "Onguiaahra" meaning "the strait"

    There is an international boundary between the United States and Canada.

  

    Before the invention of film, tourists would sketch pictures of the Falls.

    The flow was also halted over both falls on March 30th 1848 due to an ice jam in the upper river.

    The movies Niagara and Superman were filmed in part at the Falls.

    In the past ten years, two daredevils lost their lives trying to conquer Niagara.

    In the evenings, intense spotlights bathe the falls with different shades of colors.

The first  person to go over the Falls in a barrel and survive was a  63 year old female schoolteacher

 High wire tightrope acts used to be performed across the river. Most notably was "Blondin" who once actually carried his manager across on his back, stopping midway to rest !

The Falls make a tremendous sound as the water goes over and lands at the bottom.

 

Twenty percent of the worlds freshwater lies in the Great Lakes, and most flows over Niagara Falls.

 

 

Is there more mist at the Falls? Is it man made or natural coincidence?