Niagara Falls
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Niagara Falls is one of those rare tourist attractions that lands between two countries, the United States and Canada. It helps that this attraction is one of Mother Nature’s great beauties and not a typical theme park. Just about 12,000 years ago ice retreated from much of Canada and the Northern United States. The receding ice dug gouges and troughs through the earth and left the Great Lakes in its wake. Currently, the Falls straddle the Canadian/U.S. International Border and reside in both the Province of Ontario and the State of New York. Initially the Falls were about seven miles downstream from their current location and were eroding at approximately 3 feet a year until the 1950s, at which time some major water diversions were established which greatly slowed the progressions of the falls. There are basically three sets of falls but they are further categorized into the U.S. Falls and the Canadian Falls. The Canadian Falls are referred to as the Horseshoe Falls and are approximately 170 feet high. The depth of the river at the base of Horseshoe Falls is actually deeper than the falls themselves, coming in at an amazing 184 feet. A recent United States Geological Survey actually places about a third of the Canadian Falls in U.S. territory. The U.S. side consists of both the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The American Falls are slightly higher than their Canadian counterpart, reaching up to 180 feet. But the water diversions have lessened the amount of water that cascades over this section of Niagara. It’s estimated that only about 10% of total water flow falls over the American side. If you’ve ever heard tales about daredevils riding in barrels over falls it has happened, but only on the Canadian side, the American Falls do not have enough water flow and dangerous rocks line the bottom.
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