About Niagara Falls

Since the 1800s, Niagara Falls has been an important recreational and industrial area that attracts travelers from across the world. While it is not a particularly high waterfall, it is one of the widest. The 6 million cubic feet of water that plummets over the falls is also a major source of hydroelectric power. This makes it a natural treasure to both the United States and Canada.

  1. Geography

    • Niagara Falls is an expansive waterfall 17 miles north northwest of Buffalo, N.Y., and 75 miles south southeast of Toronto, Ontario. It was carved out by a massive glacier that moved along through this part of North America during the last ice age.

    History

    • It is unclear who claimed to have discovered Niagara Falls. There were Native Americans in the area far before European explorers, though Louis Hennepin of Belgium was generally considered the first to bring Niagara Falls to the attention of the world in 1677. During the 18th century, tourism became the major draw of Niagara Falls and, as more people began to come, a foot bridge was added to connect the two ends of the falls. This led to a demand for more bridges across the falls and, soon enough, a metal bridge was made to carry trains between the United States and Canada. It continues to operate today. Tourism was always the main focus and it grew with the expansion of train and automobile use. In the 20th century, it began to be harvested as a source of hydroelectric power. It continues to operate on both sides to this day.

    Size

    • Niagra Falls is divided into two separate falls: Horseshoe Falls and American Falls. The Horseshoe Falls is on the Canadian side and is the largest, with a height of 173 feet and a width of approximately 2,600 feet. The American Falls is 70 to 100 feet high, which varies due to the massive boulder found at its base at various locations. The American Falls is 1,060 feet wide. A third area of the falls is also on the American side, separated from the main part of the falls by Luna Island.

    Significance

    • Hydroelectric power stations have been built on both sides of the falls and, together, produce upward of 4.4 gigawatts of power. A new project scheduled to be completed in 2009 will add 182 megawatts of power to the Sir Adam Beck power stations in Ontario. Welland Canal has been improved within the last 50 years and is a major waterway that brings ships to and from Canada and the United States to bypass the falls.

    Warning

    • While Niagara Falls is a major natural force, it is still under attack by humans who are using the resources for their own gain. The falls need to be protected just like any other natural resource. Preservation efforts are in effect to control the amount of water that can be diverted from the falls for private use. Scientists have also been working to reduce the effects of erosion,