If you love wonderful places, then it is obvious that you have the gigantic Niagara Falls on your wish list. How much do you really know about the Niagara Falls? Find out by reading these 10 facts about this fascinating wonder of nature.
10 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT NIAGARA FALLS
1. The Niagara Falls is not the highest but nevertheless, the most powerful waterfall in North America. Enormous volumes of water flows over the crest line every minute. 6 million cubic feet (168,000 m3) of water flows during high flow while almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m3) on average.
2. Situated on the Niagara River, the falls form the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls lie between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York and are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (121 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario.
3. The Niagara Falls was formed by the receding glaciers at the end of the last ice age. A path was carved through the Niagara Escarpment water by the water from the newly formed Great Lakes.
4. These falls are a very valuable source of hydroelectric power.
5. The Maid of the Mist boat cruise is the oldest and most popular tourist attraction at the falls. The cruise boats operate from boat docks on both sides of the falls.
6. The “Cave of the Winds” is another popular tourist attraction. An elevator takes the tourists from the area between the American and Canadian Falls down to the level of the Niagara River at the base of the American Falls.
7. Almost 30 million tourists visit the falls every year. Summer days are considered the best to visit Niagara Falls. The evenings at the falls are extremely beautiful from the Canadian side as numerous floodlights illuminate both sides of the falls for several hours after dark (until midnight).
8. Many daredevils try to cross the falls or leap into the gorge. Survivors of such stunts face charges and heavy penalties, as it is illegal, on both sides of the border, to attempt to go over the falls.
9. Erosion contents such as the dissolved salts and “rock flour” generated by the erosive force of the Niagara River give a verdant green color to the waters of the Niagara Falls. The current rate of erosion is approximately 1 foot (0.30 m) per year down from a historical average of 3 feet (0.91 m) per year.
10. There are two international bridges connecting the cities surrounding the Niagara Falls. The Rainbow Bridge provides the closest view of the falls and is open to non-commercial vehicle traffic and pedestrians. The Whirlpool Rapids Bridge is the oldest bridge over the Niagara River.
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